P.J.Stevenson Collection (1975, G.E.Hunt)
Main Variant |
Transcription
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3 Elmsfield Avenue
Heanor
Derbyshire
DE7 7BD
7.12.75
Dear Mr Stephenson,
Thank you for your letter in
which you ask for my recollections of the
mummers' play in which my father took part.
I know that Marion has become very interested
in folklore and she will inevitably remember
my telling of her grandfathers's participation in
such. Marion never knew her grandfather, as
he died before she was born: if she had known
him she would doubtless have asked rather
more searching questions than ever I did.
Nevertheless, I used to listen with rapt attention
to his stories of performing this play at
Christmas time. They used to call it 'guisering'
and they would always pay a visit to
2)
the family of James Oakes of Riddings Hall.
James Oakes was looked upon as the squire
of the village and owned the iron foundry
where my father then worked. He and his
family were very kind to the poorer people
in the cottages around. Riddings, Derbyshire,
would be at that time, largely a village
for the coal mining population and heavy industries
powered by coal. Who organised the mummers
play I have no idea, but there was a very
active curate at the Riddings church who
took a great interest in the young men of the
district. He formed a football team, on condition
that they attended his Bible Class on Sundays
and, from my recollections, it seemed to be the
same group of people who took part in
the 'guisering'. My father was born in 1881
so I should imagine that that these
happenings took place about the turn of the
century. Knowing the area, I should think
they were all men from that village, since
the next village would almost be considered
foreign parts!
3)
They would rap on the door to gain admission,
the first man (though I am not sure what role
he played) would say, pushing his way in:-
"I open the door, I enter in
I hope my favour I shall win
But whether I sit, stand or fall
I'll do my duty to please you all"
From what I remember each one entered with a
verse said in rollicking tones. My father played
the part of Beelzebub and would enter saying
"In comes I, old Beelzebub
In my hand I carry my club
On my back a frying pan
If you dont think I'm a jolly old man -
I do!
His hands and face were painted with soot and
paint in a wierd mixture, all the colours running
into one another, so he told me. He wore a wide
soft-brimmed hat and smock and had a huge
frying pan strapped to hie back. I remember that
there was a skirmish with sword-play in which
4)
St. George was asked to step in and clear the
way. Concern was then shown for the wounded
man by his father
"What hast thou done!
Thou'st slain my son, my only son,
My only son, my only heir.
My only son lies bleeding there"
A call for the doctor asking
"Doctor, doctor, what great pains canst thou cure?"
Doctor's reply
"Epilepsy, palsy, gout,
Pains within and pains without.
(aside) The other day I cured a man
And if that man's no dead
He's living to this day."
The doctor had a case with mock instruments. I do
not know much about what they wore and I am
afraid I cannot recollect the names of the performers.
My father's name was George Cobourn, but as he
did not marry until he was 42, many years had
passed before he was relating these stories to me,
his daughter. Also it is 30 years now since he
died and so some of it has been lost after all these years.
5)
However, I do believe that Riddings Hall is
still inhabited by a member or descendant of
the Oakes family. Whether they have any old
photographs or records of the 'guisers' at Christmas
I do not know. Perhaps you could get in touch
with them or with the vicar of that parish.
My father said that after the plays were
performed the players were regaled with good
things in the kitchen of the Hall.
I am sorry I cannot help you further but
wish you every success with your investigations.
Yours sincerely
Elizabeth Hunt (Mrs.)
P.S. My father was also a member of a comic
band in that area, using home make
instruments. He had an old photograph
of these people but alas it has been destroyed. |
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