Sound Recordings, Cheshire

Description

Bernard Hurst, recorded at home in Wincham, talks about his involvement with the Antrobus Soul-Cakers; revival of the gang c. 1947-1948, developed from Antrobus Youth Club; origins of the custom; soulcakers and All Souls' Eve, warding off evil spirits; changes in the custom and its future; performance locations (including local Folk Clubs) - pubs and the role of drink; reference to soul-caking gangs in Comberbach and Hatton (ceased); inter-village gang rivalry and role of horse's head; soul cake; influence of Major Boyd on the Antrobus gang in the 1930s; costumes; changes to the text. [Tr. 1] Edward Isherwood, recorded at home in Marston, talks about his involvement in the young team of soul-cakers (and his father's involvement before him) c. 1950; differences between village gangs and their characters (reference to Stockton Heath, Budworth and Barnton); changes and Major Boyd's influence - performing at his house; soul-cakers as ghosts, bad luck to turn them away (past belief); changes in the custom - performances of the past in private houses with beer/cake largesse, now mainly in pubs; audience reactions; characters and humour in the play; future of the custom; younger generation; women; gender versions; ghosts; changes in the Antrobus area - newcomers, pubs; costumes; rivalry with other villages and the fight for the horse's head with the Comberbach gang; childhood recollections and fear of the horse. [Tr. 2] Jack Thompson, recorded at home in Antrobus on 23 April 1975 by John Murray. Family involvement in the Antrobus Soul-Cakers; personal involvement since c. 1960; changing the text according to the performance location (different parish, county); reference to performances in Epping Forest, Knutsford, Budworth and Acton Bridge; the play's meaning and origins; soul cakes; characters - new horse's head, importance of the horse in the play; the collection; Wheatsheaf pub as Headquarters; performance venues - pubs, some private houses, local school. [This is a copy of John Murray's original field recording.] [Tr. 3] 5 of 9.

Metadata

Identifier mnrrgd6k
IRN 414355
Class Mark LAVC/SRE/A304r
Level Item
Type of Record Archives - ISAD(G)
Peristent Link http://prototype1.library.leeds.ac.uk/mnrrgd6k
Collection(s) Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Category Archive
Parent Record Audiotape Sound Recordings
Creator(s) Pattison, Susan
Date 1975
Size and Medium 1 x 12.7cm open reel spool, Duration: 62' 36".

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