Thanks henryp, I don't doubt what you have said. The B & W Minstrels were extremely popular as were loads of racist and misogynistic comedians. And as we all know Lenny Henry took part in the B&W MS.

This has nothing to do with the effect on English Folk Arts in the 19C, as I feel sure you know. I can only say this again:

"I know their is no racist intent in any of this but can we just go for the honest recognition that 'Blackface' in 19C English Folk Arts is almost certainly associated with carnivals influenced by Blackface Minstrelsy from the US into UK Music Hall?

Was 'blackface' introduced from the minstrel fashion? Or did 'blackface' exist already, to be reinforced by the minstrel fashion?

Well on balance the effect of "the minstrel fashion" seems to far out way the vestiges of blacking up for mumming purposes, don't you?