Nottinghamshire Local History Council Collection (1960, C.A.Hind)
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NORTH COLLINGHAM SK 8362
Essay written by Mrs. E. Hawkins of High Street, North Collingham, Notts.
on the 30th March 1960.
"Plough Monday was observed but not much today. Sad. So many old customs
are dying out."
RADCLIFFE-ON-TRENT SK 6438
Essay written by Caroline Mary Scriven, of 18 Bingham Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent,
Notts. on the 19th Maroh 1960
"On Plough Monday, the second Monday in January, children went round the
village with blackened faoes, dressed in all manner of clothes and sang old
doggeral rhymes for ooppers. This was called 'Plough-Bullocking.'"
RANBY
Essay written by Mrs. Clarck of Hillcrest, Ranby, Retford, Notte. on the
3rd March 1960.
"In the winter months the hand bell ringers and morris dancers was busy
practising for Christmas time. when they would visit the farm houses. There
was also a team of about 5 men doing a sketch called the Horses Head. the
farmers invited their men and wifes to watch. The hand bell ringers and Morris
dancers was always very popular."
RUDDINGTON SK 5832
Essay written by Mrs. F.M. Benton of 26 Church Street, Ruddington, Notts
on the 25th March 1960.
"Once a year they had Plough Monday - They dressed in outlandish costumes
- blackened their faces, came round hauling a plough. In the 'squares,' 'yards'
and 'rows' they danced tumbled and sang. Their last song before handing round
their hats was the following nonsensical rhyme.
'Plough Monday Night,
The stars are bright,
3 little angels dressed in white.
Can you eat a bicuit ?
Can you smoke a pipe ?
Can you go a'oourting at 10 at night?
I've a hole in my stocking,
I've a hole in my shoe.
Please can you spare us a oopper or two.
If you can't spare a 1d - a �d will do.
And it you can't spare a 1d. God help you.
The threatened to plough up the 'oauseway' it the hat should be returned empty'."
RUDDINGTON SK 8532
Essay written by Miss C.A.Hind of The College, Chester, on the 1st March 1960.
"Plough Bullock Night was our name for Twelfth Night another highlight of
our ohildhood. We blackened our faces with soot - (I can still feel the sting
of it as I write) dressed in a variety of olothes, scooped out a mangel or turnip,
out out a weird face, placing a lighted oandle inside, and went our way to sing
to people we knew. Two song were the extent of our repertoire. The first
being;
Plough Bullock Night.
The stars are bright,
Two little angels dressed in white,
Can you eat a biscuit,
Can you smoke a pipe,
Can you go a courting at 10/oclock at night.
To be followed by
A hole in my stocking,
A hole in my shoe,
Please oan you spare me a copper or two
If you haven't a penny a Ha'penny will do.
If you haven't a ha'enny, God bless you.
Then a loud knock on the door. and a little hand eagerly outstretched for
the expected reward."
SELSTQN SK 4652
Essay written by Howard Peaoh for Mr.W.W. Dobbs of 4 Stoney Lane, Selston,
on the 26th Itarch 1960.
"After the harvest, it was but a short wait until Bonfire Night, and in
due course, Christmas. Merrymaking there oertainly was, but not muoh in the way
of expensive presents, cards and the varioue extravagances we take for granted
nowadays. But there was some good singing, and the chance for the boys to
dress up as 'Guysers,' and go from house to house performing the traditional
plays associated with Plough Monday."
SHELFORD SK 6642
Essay written by John Reuben Fisher, Granby Houss, Shelford, Notts. on the
12th March 1960.
"On Plough Monday the ploughman and waggonera drew the beribboned plough
from door to door, cracking their whips and singing,
'My back is made of iron, my boots are made of steel,
And if you don't believe it, put out your hand and feel.'
If any farmer failed to give them money he might find that his front
lawn had been ploughed up!"
SYERSTON SK 7447
Essay written by Ruth Kirkland, of Syerston Village, Newark, Notts., on
the 28th March 1960.
" - There would be a party at the Hall at Christmas, a Ohoir outing to
the seaside in the summer, oarol singing at Christmas, and the Mummers round
on Plough Monday.
All these things are no more."
UPPER BROUGHTON SK 6828
Essay written by Miss E.L.Brooks of South View, Upper Broughton, Melton
Mowbray, Leicestershire., on the 29th March 1960.
"Plough Monday boys used to dress up and black their faces, sing, come to
the door and say Please remember the Plough Boys. They were pleased with a
few pennies in those days."
WHATTON SK 7439
Essay written by Miss Mildred E. Greasley, Whatton, Nottingham., on the
29th March 1960.
"An old mummers play was acted in the houses on Plough Monday. This has
died out."
NOTES ON THE EXTRACTS
GENERAL
The instructions for the oompetition specifically asked for
notes on Plough Monday. It is probable that one or two of
the brierer references are eroneous, haveing been included
in an effort to please the judges. Unfortunately it is not
always possible to distinguish between oorrect and eroneoua
aocounts.
Note the frequent occurance of the word "doggeral."
BALDERTON Mr. Johnson appears to have had oontact with the Ghents,
hence the use of the term "Elizabethan travesty." However,
despite this, the account seems fairly accurate.
BINGHAM Probably refers to about 1881 - 1882.
BLIDWORTH Mr. Godfrey performed the play during 1895 -1900, when
R.H.Whitworth was vicar.
DUNHAM-ON-TRENT It does not necessarily follow from the revival that there
was originally a play here. However, it should be possible
to find out who was the then vicar and so check the source
of his text,etc.
RANBY The Morris Dancers could have performed either a dance or a
play (or other type of performance) Neither is specified.
The "Horses Head" would. appear to refer to an Owd Oss type
custom.
RUDDINGTON Both accounts basically agree, although both are a bit
romantic, and need to be taken with a pinch of salt.
SELSTON Christmas and/or Plough Monday?
SHELFORD This acoount compares very accurately with those published
by Brown and by Brisooe in the late Nineteenth century.
WHATTON Barley oolleoted fragments of a plau from the Misses Greasley
in 1949. Mildred must be one of these. |
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