Sutton-in-Ashfield (SK5059), Nottinghamshire

"J.Granby" (1951)

"John Granby" (Auth.)
*LOCAL NOTES AND QUERIES: Poor owd 'oss
*Nottinghamshire Guardian, 15th Dec.1951

Source states:

"RUSTIC wassailing was not yet extinct, but the excesses of disgruntled plough-bullockers had put them out of favour. Mummers or guisers entertained villagers with their play of St. George into the later years of the century.

At Mansfield, the hobby-horse performance was represented by the 'Poor old 'oss' until about 1870. Still later at Sutton-in-Ashfield a man was accustomed to parade the streets at four o'clock in the morning ringing a bell to summon people to awake and prepare for Christmas.

Children at Hucknall continued to carry about a glass-topped box in which dolls representing the Virgin and infant Babe lay among ivy and holly.

At each house of call the covering cloth was withdrawn, the images viewed, and it was deemed unlucky to let the children depart without a gift.

The Education Act of 1870 helped to put an end to old customs, but some struggled on to disappear completely during the war of 1914-18.

It is significant of the hold Christmas customs obtained upon the public that present conditions of life have not killed them all. Some of the more domestic celebrations still exist. Others have lately been revived."

P.T.Millington Collection (1971e)

Anon. (Perf.)
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE FOLK DRAMA RECORDED BY PETER T. MILLINGTON: SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD Notts SK 5059
P.T.Millington Collection, Col. 1st Feb.1971

Brief note as follows:-

"Recorded from an unnamed informant on the 1st February 1971 at the 'Speed the Plough' Sutton.

The informant remembered taking part in Plough Bullocking on Plough Monday during his youth. No other information was obtained. Performed circa 1930."

* indicates data that not yet been validated against the original source and/or has yet to be completely indexed.