P.T.Millington Collection (1973, R.Coleman)


Source:

Mr. Ralph Coleman (Perf.)
SELSTON - PLOUGH BULLOCK NIGHT GUYSERS (GUYSING) PLAY AND CHRISTMAS MUMMING
P.T.Millington Collection, Col. 1st Jan.1973

Incomplete text of play from Selston, Notts., with the characters; Saint George, Bullguy, Doctor and Beelzebub. Mr. Coleman remembered performing the Guysers as a child in 1907 or 1908, on Plough Bullock Night. The activity was called Guysing and the performers called Guysers or sometimes Bullguysers.

Mummers went round at Christmas - late at night - singing carols. They would dress up so as to be frightening, and they carried sticks which they pounded on the ground to mark time "in a frightening manner"

Index Terms:

Locations: Selston, Notts. (SK4553)
Years: Perf. 1907 or 1908; Col. 1973
Subjects: Incomplete Text; Play; Plough Bullock Night; Guysers; Guysing; Christmas; Mumming Custom; Mummers; Saint George; Bullguy; Doctor; Beelzebub; Bullguysers; Carol Singing
People: Peter Thomas Millington (Col.)
Archives: TDRG Archive, Ref. TD00345

Last Updated Dec 1986 by Peter Millington.