I think some times the depiction in the signs has a lot to do with the
idea's of the sign painters rather than an accurate representation of an
actual 'person' or their work.
I'm not sure how much guidance/suggestion/themes the painters are given.
Very little I suspect. I have seen signs where the same image is repainted
over the old and other where a new pub manager means a whole new
interpretation of the sign - hence some of those changes in the depiction
of the 'Boy'. Not to mention the different skill/styles/quality of
different painters.
regard
Ingrid Pollard.
--On 15 September 2008 14:27:25 +0000 Tracey Hylton
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> The Black Boy is a common name for public houses in the North East.
>
> One of the village pubs where my mother comes from is called the Blackie
> Boy. This is reputed to be in reference to the young boys who used to
> work down the mines (the primary trade/employment of the time within
> inland North East). However, I do remember as child being puzzled as to
> why there sign was actually the face of the black man!!
>
> It was converted to that of an actual black boy as it is supposed to
> refer within the last 10 years or so, when some started to be a bit more
> enlightened. It is my understanding in some areas other places were
> called this in reference to Chimney Sweeps.
>
> Of course in ports etc they may well have refeered to seafarers, etc.
>
> Regards
>
> Tracey Hylton
> BEM Network, www.bemnetwork.org.uk & Support for Wigan Arrivals Project
> www.swapwigan.org
>
> --- On Mon, 15/9/08, Marika Sherwood <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> From: Marika Sherwood <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: 'Black Boy' pubs
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Monday, 15 September, 2008, 2:02 PM
>
>
>
>
> Hazel, Thanks for this. Didn’t know about coffee shops.
>
>
>
> Don’t quite understand how ‘boys…attached themselves to ships
> coming from the West Indies ’ – in the days of slavery? They could
> perhaps have tried to escape, but that would probably have been useless
> as they would simply have been returned or re-sold. Of course, both the
> RN and the merchant marine had Black seamen – not many Whites were
> lining up on the shores of Africa or the Caribbean to replace their dead
> colleagues. As far as I know, the African seamen were free; don’t know
> the status of those from the Caribbean , but I imagine also free…
>
> I don’t know the book, but it sounds to me as if Lillywhite (as
> compared to ‘blackamoor’?) does not know much of the history of Black
> peoples in the UK . Of course, most of this imported coffee was
> slave-grown, so….?
>
> Marika
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
>
> From: The Black and Asian Studies Association
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hazel Petrie
> Sent: 15 September 2008 10:17
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: 'Black Boy' pubs
>
>
>
> Bryant Lillywhite's London Coffee Houses, lists a number of these with
> names such as Blackamoor, Blackmoor, Blackmoor's head, Black Boy etc.
> There are references to the Black Boy Coffee House in Ave Maria Lane from
> 1687.
>
> Lillywhite suggests that
>
> "Designers and writers of Sign-boards, as well as painters were employed
> to produce something new. The Sign of the 'Blackamoor'... etc, are all
> variations of this advertising medium. A house was then known by its
> Sign, and a live black-boy was an additional attraction.
>
> Such boys are known to have attached themselves to ships coming from the
> West Indies and it is highly probable on reaching London , they found
> ready employment and elected to remain of their own free will."
>
>
>
> Hazel Petrie
>
>
>
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