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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cornwall => Topic started by: Mowsehowse on Monday 16 January 17 18:17 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone supply evidence to support the suggestion that mines in Cornwall were ever worked by Moorish people..... that is, Moors from North Africa, or perhaps Southern Spain, not people living on the Cornish moors.
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Just anecdotal evidence. In Rossendale, Lancashire there is a traditional’group of Morris dancers known as the Britannia Coconutters who blacken their faces and put on traditional costumes. They claim that their tradition was brought to Lancashire by Cornish miners who moved north to work in the coal mines and quarries and that their dance has its roots in the traditions of North African miners who worked the Cornish mines.
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Gosh..... Sometimes I think I need my head looking into.....
I am a member of a Morris troupe, and I have danced alongside the Coconutters at the Sidmouth Festival. I did wonder why ever they would be so "esoteric", but then we are a bit "out there" too, so it never occured to me they might have a quasi serious reason.
Their claims may very well be true....
Food for thought, thank you.
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Plenty of shipwreck survivors (of many nationalities) who would choose to settle and marry Cornish women/widows .
Since coconuts are not native to North Africa (Are they not Pacific?)
I think maybe that particular element is a later adoption.
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I watched something recently that said there were Africans in the UK during the medieval and tudor period and that they came over as merchants and from trading ships so it is possible.
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I searched the Internet and could not find any evidence there of Moors in Cornwall.
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Plenty of shipwreck survivors (of many nationalities) who would choose to settle and marry Cornish women/widows .
Since coconuts are not native to North Africa (Are they not Pacific?)
I think maybe that particular element is a later adoption.
In the interests of accuracy Pauline, I quote:
"Are there coconuts in Africa? If so, where can they be found? - Quora.
Yes, coconuts are found in African continent along the shores of the oceans. In Kenya, the Coastal region is well known for coconuts trees, plenty for that matter. 24 Aug 2016
Or..."Coconuts can be found all over Africa especially in the African coastal countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tunisia, Ghana, Gabon, Morocco, Algeria, Namibia, Angola and many other countries even in the central regions."
https://www.quora.com/Are-there-coconuts-in-Africa-If-so-where-can-they-be-found
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I searched the Internet and could not find any evidence there of Moors in Cornwall.
Barry, most definitely they were in Cornwall and other coastal counties frequently. Even Pepys wrote about it.
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Barbary-Pirates-English-Slaves/
Though I wonder how many made it their homes. Apparently some made a base on Lundy.
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Gosh..... Sometimes I think I need my head looking into.....
I am a member of a Morris troupe, and I have danced alongside the Coconutters at the Sidmouth Festival. I did wonder why ever they would be so "esoteric", but then we are a bit "out there" too, so it never occured to me they might have a quasi serious reason.
Their claims may very well be true....
Food for thought, thank you.
I have also heard that the tradition goes all the way back to the nineteenth century minstrel shows. Certainly I have never seen earlier evidence of the dances. There again it doesn't take much for an event to become "traditional".