Tom Wood died in 1898 and the pitch was taken the following year by E.H. Williams who kept the name Merry Men but changed it to Merrie, and he created a bigger troupe and achieved wider renown. In this photograph, which is also from Gaynor, a member of E.H. Williams’ Merrie Men appears to be semi-supervising a children’s dance (audience participation was a large part of the fun). In the background the Grand Pavilion has gone so this photo would be later than 1901 but before Gilbert Rogers’ Jovial Jesters took the pitch in 1907.Let's say the photo is c. 1904.
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