ENGLAND: THE OTHER WITHIN

Dance images from Ettlinger

Alison Petch,
Researcher 'The Other Within' project

As part of her working card catalogue system, Ettlinger collected images of folkdance, including morris dancing from Oxfordshire (where she lived). Here are a selection of the images she had in her collection:

1965.5.1 219-222

Four images of Bampton morris. Described by Ettlinger as: '1965.5.1 219, 220 Festivals Whitsun Morris dancers at Bampton, Oxon, 1948. In the main street of the village, in the morning and in a private garden during the afternoon Photos Topical Press Agency, London and '1965.5.1 221, 222 Festivals Whitsun Morris dancers at Bampton, Oxon, 1948. The fiddler is Mr Wells Photos Topical Press Agency, London'.

Keith Chandler comments that:

1965.5.1.219 - left to right : William Nathan 'Jingy' Wells (fiddler, standing), Fred Pettifer, Reg Whitlock, Ted Dixey, Bill Brown, Bob Whitlock, Francis Shergold, Sam Bennett (in dark hat & breeches - fiddler from Ilmington, he had previously played for one of the Bampton teams, 1926-1939), George Dafter (fool).
 
1965.5.1.220 - left to right : William Nathan 'Jingy' Wells (fiddler), Francis Shergold, Bobby Wells (sword bearer), Bill Brown, Bob Whitlock, Reg Whitlock, Ted Dixey, Fred Pettifer, Roy Shergold (dancer, but on leave from naval service at this time), George Dafter (fool), Sam Bennett extreme right.
 
1965.5.1.221 - William Nathan 'Jingy' Wells. The hats on the ground indicate that he is playing for a two man jig.
 
1965.5.1.222 - left to right : Bill Brown, Francis Shergold, Reg Whitlock, Fred Pettifer, Bob Whitlock, Ted Dixey, William Nathan 'Jingy' Wells (fiddler).

In fact, according to Keith, these four images are wrongly dated. The correct date is Whit Monday, 1947 (photos taken in 1948 show Roy Shergold, now demobbed, in morris kit dancing in the set). Roy Shergold, seen in naval uniform in one photo here, told me that, on this occasion, Bill Brown had too much to drink and went home early in the day, leaving Roy to stand in as replacement. Other photos taken that day show him dancing in the set. This was 'Jingy' Wells' sixtieth Whit Monday associated with the side, having acted as musician (barring 1926) since 1899. Parts of the day were filmed, and appeared as a feature on Pathe News. More than half a century later (as of 31 August 2008), the Shergold brothers and Ted Dixey are happily still living.

1965.5.1 248-251

Described by Ettlinger as '1965.5.1 248-251 Folkdance Morris dancers at Bampton Oxon 1949. The accordion player is old Mr Kimble Photos by Ellen Ettlinger.

Keith Chandler reports that:

1965.5.1 248 [top left]: The fool is Arthur Kimber, Headington Quarry Morris Dancers

1965.5.1 249 [top right]: The fiddler is Bertie Clarke, Bampton Morris Dancers.

1965.5.1 250 [bottom left] The Bampton dancer standing left Bob Whitlock. The man standing, waering the cap, is Billy Flux, a dancer 1919-1939. Crouching in front of him is Fred Kimber, Headington Quarry Morris Dancers. The concertina player is William Kimber of Headington Quarry. The Bampton dancer immediately behind him is Roy Shergold.

1965.5.1 251 [bottom right] : (left to right) Arthur Kimber (Headington Quarry fool), William Kimber ( Headington Quarry musician: head visible), Bertie Clarke (Bampton musician), Bobby Wells (Bampton cake carrier - kneeling down towards little boy), George Hunt (Bampton fool), Francis Shergold, Bob Whitlock (Bampton dancers).

1965.5.1 252-254

Original caption: '1965.5.1 252-254 Folkdance Morris dancers at Bampton Oxon 1949. The accordeon [sic] player is old Mr Kimble Photos by Ellen Ettlinger'

Keith Chandler reports that:

1965.5.1 252 [top left]: Headington Quarry Morris Dancers, performing the dance Bean Setting. George Hunt (Bampton fool) and Arthur Kimber (Headington Quarry fool) are just visible at the rear of the set, imitating the sticking action.

1965.5.1 253 [top right]: (left to right): Bobby Wells (Bampton cake carrier), George Shears (Bampton dancer in the crowd), Fred Kimber (Headington Quarry Morris Dancers), Reg Whitlock, Roy Shergold (Bampton dancers); the concertina player is William Kimber of Headington Quarry, George Hunt (Bampton fool, behind William Kimber).

1965.5.1 254 [bottom]: The fiddler is Bertie Clarke (Bampton musician).

1965.5.1 255-256

Original caption: '1965.5.1 .255-256 Folkdance With the morris dancers at Bampton, Oxon 1949 the sword and cake bearer and the fool Photos by Ellen Ettlinger'

Keith Chandler reports that:

1965.5.1 255 [left]: The cakebearer is Bobby Wells (Bampton)

1965.5.1 256 [right]: The fool is George Hunt (Bampton).

1965.5.1 257-259

Original caption: '1965.5.1 257-259 Folkdance Morris dancers at Bampton, Oxon 1950 Children bearing garland with doll Clementine Photos by Ellen Ettlinger

Keith Chandler reports that:

1965.5.1 257 [left]: : Bampton dancers: (left to right) George Hunt, Peter Alum, Francis Shergold, Harry Hampton, Bertie Clarke (musician)

1965.5.1 258 [right]:George Shears (Bampton dancer). Keith Chandler notes: ‘Identified for me by informants, mostly long dead, exactly thirty years ago [1978], I'm probably the only one now who knows who this is!’

1965.5.1 259 [bottom]: Bampton children with garland

1965.5.1 260-261, 262

These photographs date from 6 years later, in 1956 and were taken by Roger Sherman Loomis, of New York. Ettlinger captioned these: '1965.5.1 260, 261, 262 Folkdance Morris dancers and sword and cake bearer at Bampton, 1956 Girls bearing garland and doll Photos by Prof R. Sh. Loomis, New York'. Note 262 is stuck on the reverse of 260-1. Loomis was a professor at Columbia University at the time, and an authority on medieval and Arthurian literature.

Note that the images are early colour format, and the colour has deteriorated badly.

1965.5.1 260 [left]: Bampton dancers, including Roy Shergold (fool), Harry Hampton (back to camera), Peter Alum (facing camera)]

1965.5.1 261 [right]: The cakebearer is Bobby Wells (Bampton)

1965.5.1 262 [rear]: Bampton children with garland

Back to Ettlinger main page