Re the lines "combs her hair with a wagon wheel / died with a blister in her heel" and "washed her face in a frying pan" --

These are, of course, borrowed from the American minstrel hit "Old Dan Tucker." Not a big surprise, as American-derived minstrel shows were all the rage in Britain (and Australia, and other Anglo parts of the world), and while leaning on American repertoire, they eventually developed a style distinctly their own. Odd, but "Tell Me Ma" may be unique in using these; I don't offhand recall any other songs borrowing "Dan Tucker's" pungent verses.

It would be interesting if someone more knowledgeable than I would trace the ways in which the British minstrel shows influenced the rise of early British music hall. Marginally, I suspect, but the influence is probably there, just as it is in early US vaudeville.

Bob