FTX-105 - IN COME I, TOM FOOL

LINCOLNSHIRE PLOUGH PLAYS

The Plough Play is considered to be the oldest form of Mummers in England, having ancient counterparts in Central Europe. These Lincolnshire plays recorded by Peter Kennedy in 1954 are associated with the linked-up type of Long Sword Dance, the Hobby Horse & the plough itself. After a live performance at Barrow- on-Humber, the leader talks about many aspects of the play, its survival & revival. Also included are other samples of similar plays from neighbouring villages.

THE BARROW-ON-HUMBER PLOUGH PLAY:-

1. Opening Song: WE'RE ALL JOLLY FELLOWS THAT FOLLOW THE PLOUGH sung by the full company - 1'17"

2. THE BARROW PLAY PART 1 - 5'31"

3. The Plough Lads Dance (Music: Follow me down to London/Luke's tune) played by Luke Stanley(melodeon),Frank Bell(tambourine),Jesse Mumby(jug & pan) - 4'50"

4. THE BARROW PLAY PART 2 including THE COURTSHIP SONG - 2'43"

5. THE BARROW PLAY PART 3 - 1'53"

6. Concluding Song: THE FARMER'S BOY - 2'23"

7. Talk by Jack Martin on collecting. the revival, the hobby horse & actors - 8'41"

8. Talk by Luke Stanley on music, local dances followed by rhyme: OLD MOTHER SHIPTON - 2'27"

9. Talk by C.H.Aram, local schoolmaster, about the Helpringham Play introducing George Sawnby (65), Jesse Thorlby (76) and William Martin (79) - 7'40"

10. Talk by Samuel Hollandsworth (79) of Hough-hill, near Grantham - 13'48"

11. 3 Songs from the Helpringham Play: (a) SPENCER'S PIG (b) JACK AND JILL & (c) DEAR OLD HOME - 2'53"

12. Richard Brown (83) with more talk about the Barrow Play - 3'50"

Recorded by Peter Kennedy 1954. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975.

BARROW-ON-HUMBER PLOUGH PLAY - CAST: Tom Fool: Frank Bell/ Thrashing Blade: Wilfred Bell/ Beelzebub: Jesse Mumby/ Hopper Joe: Tom Stanley/ Musical Jack: Bill Stanley/ Besom Bet: Roy Lawrence/ Hobby Horse: Luke Stanley/ Ploughboy: Maurice Broughton/ Dame Jane: Percy Housam/ Recruiting Sergeant: Kenneth Bell/ Lady: Norman Bilton/ Indian King: Jack Martin/ Doctor: Joseph Wilson/ Foreign Traveller: Rowland Thompson

Until it was revived by Jack Martin for the Festival of Britain celebrations in 1951, the Barrow Play had not been performed since 1898, when the local players were summoned by the police. Jack collected pieces of the play from many local people including: Isaac Wright,, Bill Kirkby, Joseph Grant, Billy Bilton, Harry Ebbatson, Arthur Small and George Clayton. His own father gave him both the Fool and the Doctor's parts. Jack's father, grandfather and great grandfather were all carriers on the Humber Ferry between Ferriby Sluice and Kingston-upon-Hull.

The PLOUGH LAD'S DANCE, performed by 8 dancers, using wooden swords 4 foot long made of witch-elm, is similar to that collected by Cecil Sharp at Flamborough Head in North Yorkshire, except that it has two rhythms. The first tune is SO EARLY IN THE MORNING and the second is a dance version of MY FATHER LEFT ME AN ACRE OF LAND

For further information about Plough Plays, and their association with the Sword Dance, hobby horse and plough, see JEFDSS (Journal of The English Folk Dance & Song Society) 1953 p.68.