RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Christianmpoulsen on Sunday 12 February 17 15:27 GMT (UK)
-
Does anyone have any idea what the occupation is likely to be? It is likely to be Northumberland (but please advise if you think the people don't look like they are from there) but I don't know what they are doing or when it was taken. Could but related to mining in Bigges Main or Blucher but I don't think so??
-
They look more like Morris dancers than an occupational group to me, from the crossed sticks and matching tops
Steve
-
It looks like a 'Rapper' sword dancing group to me. The gentleman on the extreme left is playing a concertina.
-
Snap!
Rapper Sword dancing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapper_sword
Found on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSSJpB5Gc6U
There's quite a few to view!
-
I'm trying to post a clearer image of the detail, but difficult with restricted file sizes
-
The bearded man on the right and the woman (probably actually a man) 1st in from the left are known as Tommy and Betty they introduce the dance and provide a running commentary to what's going on. The dance is pretty fast and furious.
-
That shape and others is often made during the dance.
-
It's definitely Rapper dancing. Originated in the mining villages of Northumberland and Durham.
You can find plenty information via google.
-
Excellent!! I think you're right. Thank you so much. One step closer to finding who it might be in the photograph!
-
The thing with Rapper swords is that they have one handle which twists to allow greater movement and the main body of the sword needs to be flexible as the dancers bend them into some ridiculous shapes. These days it is made with a very strong, flexible steel. Longsword is a bit less "bendy" by nature.
Looking at the slightly larger photograph, the swords do appear to have Rapper type handles. I'd go with Rapper rather than Longsword.
Our local side is hosting the annual Rapper sword dancing competition this year - Kendal will be awash with people in strange clothes and wielding bendy steel!
-
Excellent!! I think you're right. Thank you so much. One step closer to finding who it might be in the photograph!
Try asking the Sword Dance Union - someone might know exactly who it is and besides, they would probably like to see the photograph.
http://www.sworddanceunion.org.uk/
:)
-
Something else I've learned on rootschat ;)
-
Thank you, I've got in touch with someone from the Sword Dance union. It's been really fun and interesting learning about this, I'd never heard of it 2 days ago!
-
Thank you, I've got in touch with someone from the Sword Dance union. It's been really fun and interesting learning about this, I'd never heard of it 2 days ago!
That's great. I hope they were helpful and can help with identifying your photograph. :)
-
Just to add ... the English Folk Dance and Song Society ( EFDSS ) uses longswords as their emblem, but the do cover rapper dances.
Try them via www.efdss.org
( Happy memories of North Yorkshire when I was younger ... my first hangover came after a meet in (I think ) Castleton. I was about 13 !! )
-
I remember doing this dance in school in about 1955 - I belonged to the Country Dancing Club. Everything went well as we learned the dance and rehearsed it time and again. I was the one who had to hold the whole darned thing up at the end. Came the show with all the parents there (including my mum). someone didn't get the 'weave' quite right and, halfway off the stage the whole thing came clattering down round my ears...how embarrassing :-[ :-[
-
;D ;D ;D but what fun that must have been. Where was that? Didn't do it country dancing in the Middlesex suburbs ;)
-
Lincolnshire...QEGS, Horncastle. We did English and Scottish country dancing...lots of fun. I fear the poor old knees would not tolerate that now; I have difficulty some (cold, damp) evenings doing a slow waltz let alone The Dashing White Sergeant or the Highland Fling. As for the Can-Can (a personal favourite), that is a long-distant memory... ;D
-
As for the Can-Can (a personal favourite), that is a long-distant memory... ;D
;D ;D I used to dance the Charleston with my mother who was ace at it :D
-
Lincolnshire...QEGS, Horncastle. We did English and Scottish country dancing...lots of fun. I fear the poor old knees would not tolerate that now; I have difficulty some (cold, damp) evenings doing a slow waltz let alone The Dashing White Sergeant or the Highland Fling. As for the Can-Can (a personal favourite), that is a long-distant memory... ;D
That’s quite a conincidence, I went to QEGS in Horncastle as well, in the 1980’s! We didn’t do any country dancing that I can recall 😂
-
Christianmpoulsen, In your original post you mention Bigges Main, and also Blucher. Both these were collieries in Northumberland. Bigges Main was somewhere in the Wallsend area, and Blucher was at Throckley. If you search for the 'Durham Mining Museum' you will find information re all the collieries in Durham and Northumberland.
The photograph shows the rappers. I believe that there was also a group of them at Earsdon in Northumberland.
-
Christianmpoulsen, In your original post you mention Bigges Main, and also Blucher. Both these were collieries in Northumberland. Bigges Main was somewhere in the Wallsend area, and Blucher was at Throckley. If you search for the 'Durham Mining Museum' you will find information re all the collieries in Durham and Northumberland.
The photograph shows the rappers. I believe that there was also a group of them at Earsdon in Northumberland.
Thank you, yes, many of my ancestors were miners at both Bigges Main and Blucher. I’ve visited the Durham Mining Museum site. I received the photograph handed down the family, from the line with an ancestor who lived and worked at Blucher. I initially didn’t know anything about Rapper Sword Dancing and didn’t know what this photo depicted.
I have since learnt what it is and it’s relation to each mine having their own ‘teams’ in the North-East. I believe that this team matches the description of the Blucher Pit teams outfit (each mine had their own specific outfit and they competed with each other). This would fit the fact it was handed down from someone who worked at Blucher Pit. What I don’t know, and doubt I will find out, is if Thomas Armstrong b1871 d1910 was in their team, and is in this photo. (Or indeed his father Henry Armstrong b1826 d1896).
It seems likely, as to have the photo and pass it down to children, grandchildren and so on, it would seem likely he was in it, rather than just being mates or whatever.
-
Glad to be of help,Christianmpoulsen, just keep digging here on Roots, and the web, and you will probably find what you want eventually. I did. Best of luck. :)
-
Oh, Christian, you young thing you! I went to QEGS 1955 to 1960...we used to have country dancing club after school, although we did do some dancing in regular school I think. I have a feeling that none of my teachers would be there while you were...except perhaps Miss Wilkes (PE mistress...and a real meanie. No time off from hockey in the snow - instead, someone would be despatched to the pavilion to collect a cricket ball so we could see it!). She ran the club - I think!
-
Oh, Christian, you young thing you! I went to QEGS 1955 to 1960...we used to have country dancing club after school, although we did do some dancing in regular school I think. I have a feeling that none of my teachers would be there while you were...except perhaps Miss Wilkes (PE mistress...and a real meanie. No time off from hockey in the snow - instead, someone would be despatched to the pavilion to collect a cricket ball so we could see it!). She ran the club - I think!
Yes, Miss Wilkes was still there. Were Mr and Mrs Hewerd not there in your day?
-
Something else I've learned on rootschat ;)
Me too...fascinating.....it's like "Look and Learn" on here ;D ;D ;D
Carol
-
Christian: No, I don't think so. Although, in the very last term, a new Maths teacher came in - he was extremely handsome and I think his wife was going to start teaching the following school year. We all fell madly in love with him of course - being 15 and 16 (I left to go to Lincoln Tech after 'o' levels). I seem to remember his wife having some sort of permanent problem with one of her legs, resulting in a heavy limp - is this couple the Herewerds maybe?
-
Christian: No, I don't think so. Although, in the very last term, a new Maths teacher came in - he was extremely handsome and I think his wife was going to start teaching the following school year. We all fell madly in love with him of course - being 15 and 16 (I left to go to Lincoln Tech after 'o' levels). I seem to remember his wife having some sort of permanent problem with one of her legs, resulting in a heavy limp - is this couple the Herewerds maybe?
No, Mr Heward was the Chemistry teacher. If they were there in your day you certainly wouldn’t have forgotten them. The only other couple I remember was Mr and Mrs Bainbridge.
-
Ah well, it was a long time ago...but we were all happy there (my 2 older brothers preceded me at the school). Mainly good memories, I am pleased to say!