|
This picture appeared in the Bacup Echo April 27th 1974
The caption read does anyone know where this old picture of the Nutters was taken and can anyone recognise the men or bystanders. It was taken in 1913 presumably at the traditional Easter Saturday dance.
On the 11th May a two letters were printed the first read. I would like to give some information about the Echoes from the past " picture of the Nutters. The two ladies in shawls were always together the one the right is my mother Mrs Margaret Papworth and Mrs Mary Jackson is next to her. Uncle Jim is on the front row, second from the left. Mrs Margaret Williams.
The second letter read.
I think the photograph of the Nutters in the last issue of the Echo would be taken outside the Dog and Partridge at Glenn Top. They were the Tunstead Mill Nutters and every Good Friday they used to set off from that public house. There used to be a man called Pilkington--he was sometimes called Pickup --who used to dance with them. Mrs G Garvey.
Following these two letters another letter appeared in the May 25th Echo.
Man Who Taught The Nutters.
The photograph of the Nutters in the Echo of April 27th was taken outside the Grocers Inn in Newchurch Road opposite the Bee Hive Hotel. The Grocers Inn was demolished a few years ago. I know this is true because my dad, mum, brother and uncle are on the photograph. My dad was the leader James Pilkington known as Jimmy Pickup. He taught the Britannia Nutters. There used to be a row of houses below the Bee Hive which had cellars under them. They used to go there to blacken their faces. My mother used to make their hats and skirts. They wore black velvet trousers with a red braid trim. We all used to help to trim the garlands with fancy coloured paper . They had clogs with pointed toes trimmed with brass tacks which used to shine. I can identify the two women with shawls. The one on the right is Mrs Nuttall and next to her is my mother Mrs Pilkington. Mrs E Mitchell.
Visit the Nutters homepage to see more up to date information and pictures.
|
Fast Forward now to April 10th 1976
The man sat on the Left in the above picture taken in 1913 is said to have been a man named Emmanuel Dua, this claim followed a story reported in the Bacup Echo of 1976 which told the story of how Emmanuel, whilst paying a visit to the area from his home in Ghana. One night he visited St James church hall in Waterfoot to watch the " Nutters" who were giving a demonstration. He was apparently amazed when they began to dance, for all three of their dances were very similar to traditional tribal dances performed by the Dagomba Tribe of Northern Ghana. He was convinced he was seeing a imitation of the same dances until he was told it was just the Britannia Coconutters and their dances were a Easter tradition. Mr John Flynn the Nutters secretary at the time was also said to be amazed at the story and said that although the Nutters had travelled all over the world this was the first time he had heard this particular story neither himself nor Mr Dua could see how the dances could have possibly travelled the thousands of miles from Ghana. Over the years many theories had been passed around about the origins of the " Nutters" including Tin traders bringing it from North Africa to Cornwall where it was then picked up by the miners who later moved to Lancashire.
A week after the report appeared in the Bacup Echo a lady wrote in to say that she had been told that some local men serving in the Boer War had seen a tribal dance performed in Africa which gave them an idea which they then put into practice when they come home. The lady Elizabeth Leyland felt it no surprise after being told this story that Mr Dua was convinced he was seeing some sort of tribal dance. Whilst the lady did not know the identity of the local men involved she did say that she had recognised Mr Dua in the photograph and the two ladies who were Mr Jackson's wife Mary and her close friend Mrs Margaret Papworth.
I wonder if the argument was ever solved as to who was who ?
Tunstead Nutters Jubilee 1857-1907
The Nutters perform their Easter dances on Henrietta Street April 20 1963
|
