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Archaeology of domestic life in early 20th century Britain

The aim of this blog is to publish data on early 20th century buildings, whilst this is still accessible. Much material of interest to the historian is being destroyed through 'home improvements' and DIY, and objects are increasingly being divorced from their context through dispersal after the death of their owners. By creating an easily accessible contextual record of material culture, it is hoped that those interested in this period of history may have a resource through which the details of domestic life might be studied.

If you have any artefacts of interest, or make discoveries during the process of your own investigations that you would like to share, please contact me!

Friday 23 December 2011

Derbyshire Mummers plays and Guisers, 1920 & 1901

Mummers plays have a long tradition in Derbyshire, some continuing
into the modern era.

There's a reference to a Derbyshire Christmas Mummer's play, Christmas Eve, 1920, in the Nottinghamshire Guardian:
http://www.folkplay.info/Notts/Td00212.htm


The Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Jan.1907, Vol.29, pp.31-32 describes Derbyshire mummers plays (with photos of Castleton Guisers, 1901: http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/90sk18sa2.jpg) And article on 'The Old Tup', which would be sung by Guisers:
http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/90sk18sa.htm


The Old Tup [Derbys. Ram]
As I was going to Derby
upon a market day,
I met the finest Tupsie
that ever was fed on hay.

Say laylum, laylum, Pityful laylum lay.
The man that stuck the tupsie
Was up to the knees in blood;
The man that held the basin
Was washed away in the flood.
Say laylum, etc.

And all the women in Derby
Came begging for his ears,
To make them leather aprons
To last for forty years.
Say laylum, etc.

And all the men in Derby
Came begging for his eyes,
To kick about in Derby,
And take them by surprise.
Say laylum, etc.



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