Wesleyballs or wesselbobs

[Mike in Cumbria]

This might seem a strange request.

I grew up in Mirfield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire and at Christmas, the glass balls we hung on the tree were known as Wesley balls or wesselbobs. Naively I assumed the rest of the country used these names too. Now that I live away from there, I have been made forcefully aware of my error and have never met anyone who has heard of this term. I'd be interested to know whether anyone here has heard of Wesley Balls and, if so, when and where they heard it.

Unfortunately, Googling the term didn't find much apart from some very dubious Star Trek related porn writing!


Thanks in advance

Mike

[rosebud2]

Hello Mike. I too grew up in Mirfield & lived there for 38 years before migrating to Australia. I knew them as Wesleybobs, balls you hang on the Christmas tree. (James) Rosebud OH

[Mike in Cumbria]

Brilliant!  I have tried some more nuanced searches and found a couple of references to them in Leeds too but it's great to know that you knew the term in Mirfield.

When and where were you in Mirfield, if you don't mind telling me?

Mike


PS, I'm going to show your message to my wife, who thought I had gone completely mad.

[rosebud2]

Hello again Mike. I was born in 1944 & my parents moved to Mirfield when I was about 2, I don't remember the move though I went to school in Mirfield, but if you want more detail I would be more than happy to provide it through my wife rosebud 2's email address. James.

[ShaunJ]

If you have access to one of the 19th century newspaper databases, a search for wesley-bob brings up  some Christmas references from 1877/8.

One says it is a Yorkshire tradition, a large bunch of evergreens hung with oranges, apples and coloured ribbons, carried by carol-singing children. Another pins it down to Leeds, and says it was a bower of evergreens, inside which were wax dolls representing Persons of the Nativity

 

[Skoosh]

Well Mike, on trips to Cumbria I've heard acorns referred to as "yakbobs".

Skoosh.

[Mike in Cumbria]

Well Mike, on trips to Cumbria I've heard acorns referred to as "yakbobs".

Skoosh.

Well, they grow on "yaks", so yakbobs makes good sense! Interesting connection with the bobs - that had never struck me before.

Thanks

Mike

[ShaunJ]

"Wassail Bob " http://www.christmasarchives.com/bronte.html
"Wesley-bob" http://tinyurl.com/al9w3p7
"Wesley-bob" http://www.childrensnursery.org.uk/british-customs/popular-customs%20-%200584.htm
"Wessel-bob" http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19979/19979-h/19979-h.htm#CHAPTER_XV

[Mike in Cumbria]

"Wassail Bob " http://www.christmasarchives.com/bronte.html
"Wesley-bob" http://tinyurl.com/al9w3p7
"Wesley-bob" http://www.childrensnursery.org.uk/british-customs/popular-customs%20-%200584.htm
"Wessel-bob" http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19979/19979-h/19979-h.htm#CHAPTER_XV

Ahhh - now those are interesting links. I always assumed Wesselbob was derived from Wesley ball, but it seems to be the other way around. Wassail bobs, or Wessell Bobs pre-date Christmas trees, so perhaps the glass balls took on the old name to  become Wesley Balls. I always assumed it was something to do with John Wesley, but clearly not.

Many thanks or finding these references. I wonder why it seems to be so restricted to West Yorkshire though.

Mike