Folk Singing Broadsht.2 5/4/09 8:47 am Page 1

SOMERSET FOLK All who roam, both young and old, DECEMBER TOP SONGS CLASSICAL Come listen to my story bold. 400 OF ENGLISH COLLECTED BY For miles around, from far and near, YEARS TEN FOLK They come to see the rigs o’ the fair, 11 Wassailing CECIL SHARP 1557 Stationers’ Company begins to keep register of ballads O Master John, do you beware! Christmastime, Drayton printed in . The Seeds of Love Folk music has inspired many composers, and And don’t go kissing the girls at Fair Mar y Tudor queen. Loss of English colony at Calais The Outlandish Knight in tunes from Somerset singers feature The lads and lasses they come through Tradtional wassailing 1624 ‘John Barleycorn’ first registered. John Barleycorn in the following compositions, evoking the very From Stowey, and Cannington too. essence of England’s rural landscape: can also be a Civil Wars 1642-1650, Execution of Charles I Barbara Allen SONG COLLECTED BY CECIL SHARP FROM visiting 1660s-70s Samuel Pepys makes a private ballad collection. ’s passacaglia Green Bushes WILLIAM BAILEY OF CANNINGTON AUGUST 8TH 1906 Lord Randal custom, Restoration places Charles II on throne was composed in 1905-6 but not performed similar to carol The Wraggle Taggle Gypsies 1765 Reliques of Ancient English Poetry published by FOLK 5 until years later. It takes its themes from the 4 singing, with a Thomas Percy. First printed ballad collection. Dabbling in the Dew ‘Green Bushes’ tune collected from Louie bowl filled with Customs, traditions & glorious folk song Mozart in London As I walked Through the Meadows Hooper of Hambridge, plus a version of ‘The cider or ale. Some 12 1 1780s Robert Burns collects songs for Scots Musical Museum. The Bold Fisherman Lost Lady Found’ collected by Grainger himself Somerset villages MAP 1780s-1830s Romantic Movement in Literature and Music. Forty Long Miles in Lincolnshire. have begun to revive 14 this custom, notably at 1787-1803 Scots Musical Museum published. ’s Somerset Rhapsody was first Drayton. Sharp collected F rench Revolution begins. Revolutionary & Napoleonic Wars performed in February 1906 and uses three 8 10 wassail songs nearby Somerset County Museum 1802-1803 Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border published by collected tunes to tell a story. The ‘Sheep- including a fine version Service Sir Walter Scott. WHAT IS shearing Song’ introduces a rustic scene; then from Jim Woodland of 1811 First Somerset folk singers collected from by Cecil FOLK MUSIC? ‘High Germany’ is heard as a recruiting party of on Boxing Day Sharp born. soldiers approaches. A young man decides to 1903; Battle of Waterloo join up and says goodbye to his girlfriend in Wassail and wassail all over the town, the cup 1839 John, James and Henry Broadwood collecting songs in Folk music can be defined as songs collected and . Folk song collecting begins in Russia and ‘from the mouths of the people’. ‘The True Lover’s Farewell’. it is white and the ale it is brown, the cup it Germany. 2 is made of the good ashen tree and so is the Folk song collecting had begun in England In 1912, arranged the 13 11 1843 Old English Songs published by John Broadwood. 6 malt of the best barley. among the Broadwood family in Sussex in the Hobby Horse Dance tune for orchestra Queen Victoria on throne. Nationalist Movement in music For its your wassail and its our wassail and its 1830s, and by the 1880s, several folk song and in 1923, he composed his English Folk 1859 Cecil Sharp born. joy be to you and a jolly wassail books had been published. Song Suite for military band, which is better 1878 Nursery Rhymes and Country Songs published by M H The girt dog of he burnt his long tail, known in the orchestral version arranged in Mason By the 1900’s, folk music was a fashionable And this is the night we go singing wassail 1924 by Gordon Jacob. Its first section is based 1888-91 Songs of the West published by Sabine Baring activity with the rich and famous learning morris 2 O master and missus now we must be come, Gould, Sussex Songs by , Traditional Tunes on ‘Seventeen Come Sunday’, the second on ‘My 9 dancing, composers like Ralph Vaughan God bless all in this house until we do come by Frank Kidson, English Folk Songs by William Barrett. Bonny Boy’, and the third is a romp through Williams, Percy Grainger and APRIL again 1893 English Country Songs published by Lucy Broadwood ‘Folk Songs from Somerset’. and John Fuller Maitland. First attempt at a national folk song actively collecting, and others like Gustav Holst 9 For its your wassail and its our wassail and its book. and Frederick Delius using the material to create 3 Cuckoo! joy be to you and a jolly wassail 1895 A Garland of Country Song published by Sabine Baring an English composing style based upon the Mid to late April ...the cuckoo arrives in SHARP COLLECTED WASSAIL SONGS FROM MRS. OVERD AND MRS. Gould. music of its people. CUSTOMS TROTT OF LANGPORT (JAN 5TH 1909), AND HARRY RICHARDS OF 1898 Folk Song Society founded by Kate Lee and AP Graves. Somerset. One of the popular songs collected by Cecil (JAN 6TH 1909) Fashions change and folk music drifted into a Sharp in Somerset was: 1899 Folk Song Society publishes first Journal. Kate Lee TRADITIONS & collects from . minority interest until the 1950s when there was ‘The Cuckoo’ JULY OCTOBER Queen Victoria dies. Edward VII on throne a brief ‘second revival’ which centred upon the 12 GLORIOUS FOLK The cuckoo is a pretty bird she sings as she flies Burning the Ashen 1903 Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams begin establishment of folk clubs. She brings us good tidings she tells us no lies, 6 Lowland Games 9 Punkie Night Faggot collecting. The second folk revival was based upon SONG ALL YEAR She sucks on little birds eggs for to keep her 1904 First volume of Folk Songs from Somerset published by Thorney Farm, Last Thursday in October, & , Christmas Eve Cecil Sharp. Folk Song Society re-founded by Lucy Broadwood. American popular music rather than the English ROUND voice clear idea that folk song was collected from the Traditions can The ashen faggot is an old English Christmas tradition 1905-6 Henry Hammond and George Gardiner begin And never sings cuckoo till the summer draws collecting in Somerset. Percy Grainger begins collecting in mouths of the people and for every person who start at anytime. The traditions surrounding Hallowe’en have developed found in and Somerset, similar to the Yule log. near. Lincolnshire. Somerset Rhapsody by Gustav Holst, Norfolk SOMERSET JANUARY Here in Somerset from a Christian feast of the dead, All Saints Day, and Ash sticks are bound together with a series of green came into a because they liked English Rhapsodies by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Green Bushes by COUNTY COUNCIL folk music, there were ten who came because we enjoy boggy a shadowy pagan festival. All Hallows’ Eve becoming ash or hazel withies and placed on the fire. Each time Percy Grainger. Mary Neal’s Esperance Guild begins to give a time for socializing and mischief. In Somerset, a binding bursts, a round of drinks is ordered and public performances of folk songs and morris dances. “Celebrating they liked Bob Dylan or Joan Baez, and perhaps 1 Wassailing the MAY lowland pranksters abroad on the night took with them the perhaps a story told. Today this tradition survives in 1907 English Folk Song: Some Conclusions published by wanted to try and sing like them. Once inside, landscapes that Somerset” Apple Trees traditional turnip or ‘mangle wurzel’ lanterns. It is Dunster at the Luttrell Arms. Cecil Sharp. First theoretical book on English folk song. many of these people discovered English folk creep out from 17th January, Old Twelfth Night, 4 Minehead Hobby-Horse believed that the lanterns were locally termed 1909 Last volume of Folk Songs from Somerset published by music and found that they liked it. the Severn ‘spunkies’ or ‘punkies’, the name for balls of ignited Cecil Sharp. May 1st-3rd, Minehead and Dunster estuary and flood In the early 1900s, Cecil Sharp had assumed A set of customs is marsh gas sometimes seen on the Levels. In the past 13 1910 Esperance Guild of Morris Dancers founded by Mary Neal. grouped under the seasonally. A lanterns were paraded by children at Langport, Long Mummers & Hogglers that he was witnessing the end of a tradition and Each May Day Eve the Minehead hobby-horse 1911 English Folk Dance Society founded by Cecil Sharp. name of ‘wassailing’. great place to get The Lowland Games. Photo: Ian Tapscott Sutton and and today the tradition survives at Boxing Day December 26th North Curry George Butterworth begins collecting and dances in Cecil that folk song would soon be dead. But the prepares to stalk the town as it has done for centuries. At Carhampton the muddy so why not have some fun doing it and raise Hinton St George. Here, on the last Thursday in Sharp’s morris team. second revival discovered many more traditional Accompanied by beating drums and with its own The Christmas custom of ‘mumming’ can be traced wassail celebration some money for charity too? Muchelney's Lowland October, lanterns are chiselled out of root vegetables, First World War. George Butterworth killed TAKE PART a selection of Somerset Folk singers and today, folk songs are still being signature tune, it swirls and swaggers through the back to the takes place in the old Games began in 1984 and attract willing contestants highly decorated, paraded in the street, judged in the 1916-18 Cecil Sharp collecting in Appalachian Mountains collected. So just like ‘John Barleycorn’ in the folk streets in a flurry of ribbons and ostrich feathers, middle ages with Maud Karpeles and Olive Dame Campbell. A Company of Voices, Holway Park Sch. , Thurs evenings, 01823 252191 orchard behind the happy to have a mucky time. Try mud wrestling with village hall and Folk music & song sessions Folk music and song sessions when can be held monthly, fortnightly or weekly, on a particular day. Some focus on song, others Stanchester Quire, All Saints Primary School, , Thurs evenings, song every time someone says that English folk Butcher’s Arms and bowing to the women, chasing the children and prizes are then 1918-21 First edition of English Folk Songs from the 01935 822911 Muchelney rules or, in other words ‘anything goes’. A ‘disguisings’ music, sometimes both. Some clubs book ‘guest’ performers. Go on, try a few from the list music is dead it soon pops up its head again, includes the libation of the apple trees with cider, accosting men to give money. Its tour lasts for three awarded for the Southern Appalachians published by Cecil Sharp and Olive below. feast of Somerset bravado. Tel: 01458 250811 for become Dame Campbell. ‘and so amazed them all’. shooting guns, a bonfire and the singing of the days. ‘Sailor’s Horse’ painted on the side suggests an best punkies. Sunday Folk Club, music and song session, Halsway Manor, first Sunday (except Bands Carhampton wassail song. It is held on Old Twelfth information. fashionable 1924 Cecil Sharp dies. August), 01984 618274 Fiddling Folk for children and young people, North Curry Village Hall, Taunton, association with the local seamen and the earliest One local legend 1st Sunday, afternoon, 01823 490269 across western 1930 Cecil Sharp House opened in London. Folk and Roots Music Session, The Crown, Wells, 2nd Sunday, 01749 673457 night. Similar celebrations may be found at has it that the The Albion Horns, North Curry, Wednesday evenings, 01823 490219 description of 1830 states that they, and the Europe at all Mitre Inn Folk Club, , alternate Fridays, 01458 831203 and Churchstanton and . AUGUST tradition started 1932 Folk Song Society and English Folk Dance Society merge. fishermen, used to bring out several hobby-horses levels of society. The Green Dragon Music Session, , last Tues, 01460 234335 when the Hinton Second World War No Smoke Folk Club, Bridgwater Arts Centre, 1st Wednesday, 01278 422700 Sides Most Morris and clog dance sides FIND OUT The Carhampton Wassail Song each May Day The origins of rehearse weekly and 'dance-out' at festivals, fetes, fundraisers and other men were late A traditional mummers play is enacted Old Inn Session and Singalong, Holton, , 1st Weds, 01963 33205 and punish at North Curry on Boxing Day. 1953 Last singer collected from by Cecil Sharp dies. events. New members are welcome but please note that sides can be Old apple tree, we wassail thee, 7 Priddy Sheep Fair the mummer’s Old Down Inn Acoustic Club, Emborough, , every Weds, 01761 241235 exclusively for men, women or both (mixed).Best to enquire before you turn up! back from Photo by David Lawrence King George VI dies. Elizabeth II on throne MORE And hoping thou wilt bear anybody who play, a folk- Milverton Music Club, The Victoria Rooms, Milverton near Taunton, 1st Friday, Nearest Wednesday to 21st August Chiselborough 01823 400416 Bathampton Morris Men, Cotswold Morris, Winsley, near Bradford-on-Tone, refused drama, are a mystery. Some link it to greek plays, For the Lord doth know where we shall be Fair, four miles to Blazing Stump Folk Club, Royal Oak, , 2nd Friday, 07970 116816 Thursday evenings, 01225 867031 Songs and Tunes Priddy Sheep Fair is reputed to have been held others to pagan ritualistic beliefs. Familiar characters Till apples come another year. donations with a Folk Club, Ring O’ Bells, 3rd Friday, 01275 858756 Cam Valley Morris Men, Cotswold Morris, , Monday evenings continuously since 1348. Doubtless because of the the east. Their women went looking for them carrying 01761 233005 Discography ceremonial include, St George, a doctor, a turk, a man dressed as Shepherd’s Rest Singaround, Taunton, 4th Friday, 01823 272826 For to bear well, and to bloom well local belief that as long as the hurdle stack remains in their 'punkies'. The drunken husbands saw the eerie Dr Turberville’s Morris, Mixed Cotswold Morris, , , Tuesday a woman, Old Father Time and Beelzebub with his Eli’s, The Rose & Crown, singaround, , 3rd Sat (September–May), evenings, 01458 272062 Somerset Sisters, (2000) Roots Quartet. Female So merry let us be, beating. Other lights, thought they were ‘goolies’,the restless spirits of Halsway 01458 250494 the village, so will the Fair. club and pan. Mummers appear in many court Mendip Morris Men, Congresbury, Monday evenings, 01934 624067 hobby-horse children who had died before they were baptized, and The Acorn Folk Club, The Old Ship Aground, Minehead, 1st Sat, 01643 709394 acapella duo celebrate Cecil Sharp’s female Let every man take off his hat, records because they were always getting into Manor Priston Jubilee Morris, Cotswold Morris, Priston, Monday evenings, fled in terror. This round-up of drunken husbands Folk Session, Ring O’ Bells, , Glastonbury, 1st Sat monthly, 01458 210232 source singers. [email protected] And shout to the old apple tree! traditions have disputes, also the combination of dark evenings and 01761 471209 became Punkie Night. SocietyNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CENTRE FOR TRADITIONAL FOLK ARTS Somerset Morris, Women’s Cotswold Morris, Marksbury, Thursdays evenings Old apple tree, we wassail thee, been recorded SEPTEMBER revellers in disguises offered a marvellous opportunity The Society organises educational folk courses Festivals Somerset’s Folk festivals offer a range of performance and Taunton Deane Morris Men, Cotswold and Border Morris, Wilton, Taunton, The Land Remains (2004) George Withers. The Minehead Hobby-Horse from the same participation opportunities in the heart of the Somerset countryside. Even And hoping thou wilt bear Hinton St George Punky Night Song for crime. For example, in December 1657, a and holidays in music, dance and song. Tuesday evenings, 01460 54559 Traditional Somerset singer. Collection of open Mon-Fri includes a roster of folk artists. Go for the day or stay for Hatfuls, capfuls and three bushel bagsful stretch of coastline in the nineteenth and early resident complained to the county bench that he had Folk events most weekends, office the weekend. Morris Men, Halsway Manor, Thurs. evenings, 01643 862541 traditional and composed songs. 01460 57476 8 Bridgwater Fair twentieth centuries. Many have disappeared with It’s punkie night tonight been beaten up on the day of 26th by a group who ,Somerset, TA4 4BD West Somerset Folk Festival, Carhampton, Minehead, end of June, 01643 Withy Morris Mixed Morris, Wellington, Thurs. evenings, 01823 442453 And a little heap under the stairs, Wyvern Jubilee Morris, Cotswold team, , Thurs. evenings, 01963 440612 Minehead and Padstow the sole survivors of this or St. Matthew’s Fair It’s punkie night tonight had been ‘drinking, playing cards and fiddling all day Tel: 01984 618274 www.halswaymanor.org.uk 841597 Songs of Somerset Folk. Eddie Upton (1998). Hip, Hip, Hooray! Priddy Folk Festival, second weekend July, 01749 870981 Give us a candle, give us a light in disguised habits’ [email protected] Solo album of traditional songs and dance tunes curious and colourful tradition. 4 days ending on last Saturday in September Glastonbury Festival last weekend June, 01458 834596 Clog, Appalachian, Stave Dance These, On 12th night men ‘go with their wassel bowl into the It’s punkie night tonight like the Morris, are display dance teams who ‘dance out’ at festivals, fetes and collected by Cecil Sharp. [email protected] The Hobby Horse was recorded in a 1792 ledger Somerset Schools Festival, Wells, Saturday afternoon mid June, orchard and go about the trees to bless them and put Bridgwater Fair began as an 8-day long horse and It’s punkie night tonight 01823 356674 fundraisers New members are welcome and tuition is provided. Open evenings entry at Dunster Castle, 5 shillings was paid. are sometimes held for potential new members, why not call to enquire and Where the Parrett Winds Peaceful. Stanchester a piece of toast upon the roots, in order to it’ cattle fair around St Matthew’s day, 21st September, It’s punkie night tonight 14 Glastonbury Thorn Sweet Coppin come with a friend! Venues Programming Folk Catch national and Beetlecrushers Clog and Step Dance, Binegar, , Wednesday and Bridgwater Quires. Somerset folk songs JOHN AUBREY, 17TH CENTURY ANTIQUARIAN in 1249. Today it starts on a Thursday,lasts three Adam and Eve wouldn’t believe Clog Dance Team international folk performers at venues across the county. Many arts centres St John’s Church & evenings, 01373 812227 collected from towns and villages along the river days and ends on the last Saturday. It takes place on It’s punkie night tonight also programme song, dance, percussion and other workshops inspired by JUNE Ladies dance side, performs traditional arts. Call for a programme. No Mean Feet, Appalachian, , Tuesday evenings, 01935 826758 St Matthew's Field, Sweet Coppin, Ladies Clog Team, Taunton, Monday evenings, 01823 323905 Parrett. [email protected] dances from around British Bridgwater Arts Centre, 01278 422700 FEBRUARY or MARCH Treacle Eater Clog, Northwest Clog team, Yeovil, Mon. evenings, 01963 34953 known locally as the Fair December 25th Isles, also English traditional The David Hall Arts Centre, , 01460 240340 A West Country Christmas. Stanchester Quire. The Meeting House, , 01460 54973 Mendip Stave Dancers 01749 860348 5 Wells Country Dancing Field and is now a huge NOVEMBER clog dancing. Our musicians are both male and female. Christmas songs, lesser known carols and tales Egg Shackling The Glastonbury thorn (crategus The Brewhouse, Taunton, 01823 283244 Mr Wilkins' Shilling Women's Northwest Morris, Bath, Thurs. evenings, 01225 2 funfair, ranked as second MONDAY EVENINGS 859338 from the South West. [email protected] Festival oxyacantha praecox) is a variety Merlin Theatre, Frome, 01373 465949 largest in England after 10 Sarah Rudd, 16 Clifford Ave. Taunton, TA2 6DJ Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton 01823 414144 Shrove Tuesday Saturday, mid June, Green Bridgwater Guy of hawthorn bush which Folk Dance Clubs Social dance is probably most popular the Nottingham Goose Tel: 07817 806164 Email: [email protected] Strode Theatre, Street, 01458 442 846 Joy to the World. Stanchester Quire. West Stoke St Gregory & blossoms twice yearly, around www.sweet-coppin.co.uk with the 50 plus age group. It affords a lovely way to meet new friends, dance Fawkes Carnival and socialize. Don’t worry if you don’t know the dances, they are easily Country carols and songs, featuring Thomas The 31st festival held on 17th June 2006 saw eighty Bridgwater Fair. Photo: Ian Tapscott Fair. Easter and Christmas. In legend A wealth of traditions focus upon Shrove Tuesday. In Folk Organisations learned and in fact you probably learned some of them at school. Remember Shoel's great anthem 'Joy To The World'. schools and Nearest Friday to November 5th it is associated with Joseph of Arimathea who is said Folk South West, regional folk development agency, 01935 822911 the days when we had 'country dancing' lessons? Somerset, the old custom of egg shackling has been to have visited the Isle of Avalon 2,000 years ago. Halsway Manor Society residential centre for traditional folk music, song, dance Bridgwater Country Dancers, St George’s Hall, Monday evenings, 01823 491662 [email protected] over 2000 The bungled attempt of Guy Fawkes to blow up revived at Stoke St Landing at Wearyall Hill, he struck his staff into the and crafts, 01984 618274 Folk Dance Club, Over Stratton Village Hall, alternate Wednesday evenings, Gregory and Shepton children Parliament at Westminster Palace on 5th November Taunton Deane 01935 424927 ground whereupon it immediately flowered. Another Halsway Contra Club, Halsway Manor, 2nd Wednesday evening except August, Beauchamp Primary country Fiddlin’ Folk 1605, is celebrated enthusiastically in Bridgwater Community and Bands Join a A band of young fiddlers (7-14yrs) plus family who tradition states that Joseph was Christ’s uncle, and community or folk band. Most of the teaching is ‘by ear’, to be 01278 732202 Schools. Eggs are dancing on which today hosts a huge illuminated carnival Morris Men play recorder, whistle or flute. Hold occasional workshops with that he had once brought his nephew to Somerset. It accessible to all. Dust off your voice, get out that , trumpet or flute, why Jubilee Folk and Country Dance Club, New Memorial Hall, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Reading the Cathedral procession held annually on the nearest Friday to wait? New members always welcome. Thursday evenings, 01823 491662 carefully marked by their well known fiddlers and other events eg. Barn Dances. was this story that inspired to write his formed in 1973, Taunton Deane Morris Men continue Roud, S, Upton, E and Taylor, M, 2003, owners and then placed Green. The November 5th. The evening concludes with a tradition this lively and colourful English music and dance Folk Dance Club, Community Centre, Tues. evenings 01984 623495 LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOONS MONTHLY ‘Glastonbury Hymn’ now known as . Choirs in a sieve which is then known as ‘squibbing’, when fireworks or ‘squibbs’ are tradition which was first recorded in the 15th century. Barley Rye, Ring O’Bells, Nailsea, Sunday evenings, 01275 852991 Still Growing (EFDSS). www.efdss.org dancing is PLUS OCCASIONAL WORKSHOP DAYS Glastonbury thorn blossom is sent to the monarch Mummers Traditionally a Christmas activity, the mummers play shaken. The last egg to held aloft on wooden ‘coshes’ by local people known Frome Community Choir, Frome, Monday evenings, 01373 467324 combines a curious cast of characters in a tale of death and renewal. Contact preceded by Contact — Mrs. Anna Bushell each year to decorate the Christmas breakfast table. Contact Jim Bagnall North Curry School dancing at Wells 2 Queen Square, North Curry, Somerset TA3 6LT as ‘squibbers’ and fired entusiastically outside the Voice of the People, Community Choir, Bridgwater Arts Centre, Wednesday the mummers for details of their performances. remain un-cracked wins. a procession 23 Eastside Lane, , Bridgwater, TA7 8QB evenings, fortnightly, 01278 422700 Telephone: 01823 490269 town hall. Bridgwater is the largest of a series of West …Glastonbury, where the winter thorn Bishopswood Mummers, Taunton 01823 270754 led by civic dignitaries in full regalia from St Tel: 01278 685494 Email: [email protected] Meeting Voices Community Choir, Chard Town Hall, Wednesday evenings, North Curry Mummers, 01823 490007 Egg shackling Email: [email protected] Country carnivals. Blossoms at Christmas mindlful of Our Lord www.tauntondeanemorris.co.uk 01404 881609 Cuthbert’s Church to the Cathedral. Truly spectacular. TENNYSON, HOLY GRAIL

Folk Singing Broadsht.2 5/4/09 8:47 am Page 2

Cecil Sharp was born in London on St Cecilia’s He published his first collection, A Book of British Between 1904 -1909 he published the five During the First World War, he collected songs in Mrs. Meecham, Merriott 1908 SOMERSET Day, 22 November 1859. Educated at Uppingham Song for Home and School in 1902. volumes of Folk Songs from Somerset and his the Appalachian Mountains of the USA, helping to Thomas Mitchell, Merriott Amos Ash, Combe Florey Cecil Sharp in Somerset IS YOUR Mr. Morris, Charles Ash, Crowcombe School and Clare College Cambridge, he went to Cecil had not yet done any folk song collecting of theoretical book English Folk Song: Some develop the folk music movement there, and his Mrs. Parsons, Marston Mary Ann Ash, Cannington Cecil Sharp travelled mostly by bicycle on his words in notebooks, a process which took a seek his fortune in . his own, but in 1903 Charles wrote to tell him Conclusions, which revolutionised knowledge of work made him the leading international authority. ANCESTOR HERE? Magna J.H. Baker, Crowcombe He made music his profession while living in that his gardener, John England, knew some folk folk songs in England. He continued to collect, organise and publish until John Patch, Hazelbury Mr. Beemer, Crowcombe collecting journeys criss-crossing the county little time, but which enabled him to get to Plucknett Mrs. Callow, Bagborough FOLK Adelaide, and met a young clergyman named songs. Cecil went down to Hambridge and Cecil made 21 collecting trips to Somerset less than a month before his death from cancer on Can you spot your family name amongst Cecil Sharp's on his quest for its hidden folk songs. In the know his singers. One of the most remarkable singers? How can you find out if you are related to them or Betsy Prince, Hazelbury Florence Chedgey, Wick collected ‘The Seeds of Love’ on 22 August 1903. between 1903 and 1909. Plucknett (Stockland ) . 22 June 1924. not? A good way to start is with the Somerset & Dorset MAP early 1900s, portable recording equipment legacies of his collecting journeys is a unique Mrs. Sherring, Marston James Chedgey, Family History Society. They have an excellent website full of Cecil returned to England in 1892 and married his Cecil had two music teaching jobs and so the only After that he did most of his work in other In 1911 Cecil founded the English Folk Dance Magna Henry Conybeare, Combe was just becoming available but was very collection of photographs of the singers, tips, links and news, and they publish a regular magazine for childhood sweetheart Constance Birch in 1893, leisure time he had for collecting was the school counties, collecting morris and country dances as Society (EFDS). Mr. Warren, Hazelbury Florey cumbersome. It was also most uncomfortable members. Visit www.sdfhs.org for more information. dancers and musicians he encountered. These the same year Charles Marson became vicar of holidays. well as songs. In 1932 the Folk Song Society merged with the Plucknett Edward Feast, Cannington for the singers who were required to bury their are now held in the Vaughan Williams Hambridge, Somerset. Susan Williams, Hazelbury John Fox, Bagborough Somerset For more than five years Cecil spent nearly every He made a further five collecting visits to Somerset EFDS to form the present English Folk Dance and Hambridge Harriet Moger, East Harptree Plucknett James Fudge, Bishops heads into what looked like a large bucket for Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House, Cecil became interested in folk music through day of his spare time in Somerset travelling between 1913 and 1916. Song Society (EFDSS). Its headquarters in north Mrs. Pavey, Cheddar Harriet Young, West Chinook Lydeard 1903 Theophilus Pritchard, Frances Gray, Enmore the sounds to be recorded. Cecil Sharp headquarters of the English Folk Dance and teaching and the problem of finding songs which hundreds of miles by train and bicycle, meeting London is Cecil Sharp House. Mary Bunston, Hambridge 1906 Compton Martin Jim Gray, Enmore young boys liked to sing. more than 300 singers and collecting more than John England, Hambridge Lucy Carter, preferred to notate song tunes and record the Song Society. George Radford, Bridgwater Jane Gulliford, Combe Florey has a Job Gillard, Hambridge 2,000 tunes. Workhouse 1908 James Lovell, Broomfield Harriet Goodland, Hambridge Mr. Rapsey, Bridgwater Anna Abbott, Esau Porter, Enmore Joseph Hamlet, Barrington Henry Reed, Mrs. Francis, Mrs. Stanley, Louisa Hooper, Hambridge secret... Workhouse Priscilla Light, Thomas Stanley, Spaxton ‘Mayle’ Charles Turner, Bridgwater Alfred John Neville, West Mrs. Temlett, Bagborough 1903: HAMBRIDGE Charles Parsons, Long Sutton John Vincent, Priddy Coker Charles West, Broomfield ...it’s an amazing story Miss Quick, Drayton George Weeks, Priddy Charles Neville, East Coker Tom Spracklan, Hambridge 1913 John England Follow the Singers Trail Samuel Weeks, Priddy (Wells 1 Thomas Symes, Mrs. Coles, Over Stowey of Somerset people who St Cuthbert) Minehead and George Templeman, John England was born in 1865 at Hambridge. After 1914 Hambridge 1906 1904 sang. Their songs working as a farm labourer in Dorset he returned to the N AUGUST 1903, London music teacher Cecil Sharp visited his friend Reverend Charles Marson at Hambridge and heard John England, the vicarage gardener sing ‘The Seeds of Love’. John Hill, Bagborough Lucy White, Hambridge Richard Adams, East Captain Lewis, Minehead Tom Hill, Bagborough village, married, and became Charles Marson’s James Woodland, Stocklinch Harptree Mrs. Slade, Minehead inspiring great musicians Thus began one of the most remarkable adventures in English music. In Somerset, over the next thirteen years or so, Sharp visited 122 locations, collected songs and tunes from 358 Mr.[?] Mrs.[?] Wyatt, West Mrs. Balsh, Ubley William Sparks, Minehead gardener and general 1904 Monkton Jack Barnard, Bridgwater Captain Vickery, Minehead who wrote works Giles Adams, Isle Brewers outdoor servant. His song named individuals, and gathered children’s games from twenty schools. Perhaps one of these singers or children was your ancestor? Maybe Cecil collected in your town or village? James Barnett, Bridgwater Mrs. Bond, Barrington 1905 Frome area ‘The Seeds of Love’ was I William Bennett, Bridgwater performed worldwide. John Coles, Hambridge William Gard, Elizabeth Betty, Bridgwater John Arnold, Frome the first that Cecil Sharp Singers hotographed listed in date order as visited by Cecil Sharp Joseph Cornelius, Shepton Workhouse James Brooks, Bridgwater T Buckley, Beauchamp These maps locate the collected, on 22 August Mrs. Brooks, Bridgwater 1906 Henry Cave, Evercreech Sarah Gummer, Hambridge Julia Burroughs, Robert Chapman, Thomas Cave, Evercreech 1903. In 1912, he and 1904: LANGPORT 1905: HARPTREE & BRIDGWATER 1906: HAZELBURY PLUCKNETT yet flexible voice, and Alfred Harris, Shepton singers and tell the story 11 Betsy Holland Ellen Carter, Cheddar John Chapman, Dunster John Gartell, Castle Cary his family emi-grated to retained his singing Beauchamp Mrs. Chapman, Ubley William Crockford, James Grace, Frome John Jeffrey, Isle Brewers of Cecil Sharp and Saskatchewan, Canada, Betsy Holland was born at Kentisbeare, Devon, in ability into his nineties. It Jane Chapman, West Bratton/Minehead Charles Harvey, Croscombe 4 Emma Overd 6 Jack Barnard 8 Susan Williams Elizabeth Lock, Muchelney Harptree William Davis, James Higgens, Shepton where his descendants 1880. Her family were travellers, but did not travel was only in the last few Anna Pond Shepton Emma Overd was born in 1838 at Port Field, Curry ‘Jack Barnard’s’ real name was John Barnett, and he Susan Williams was born in 1832, and was among Mrs. , Puriton Bessie Huxtable, Minehead Mallet Charles Marson who widely, circulating around mid and north Devon and Beauchamp still live. months of his life that James Church, Chewton John Knott, Mrs Millard, Castle cary Rivel, but spent most of her life in Langport ‘Westover’. was born in Bridgwater around 1861. His father several singers in Hazlebury Plucknett who made their Mrs. William Ree, Hambridge western Somerset, though her grandmother had been illness confined him to Mendip Henry Cudland, Old Cleeve Isaac Perkins, Nettlebridge collected their songs over John England singer of ‘The William Spearing, Isle She was married to an agricultural labourer and James was also a singer, and they lived in the West living from weaving. She Mrs. Coombes, Bridgwater Joe Milton, Theodore Taylor, Shepton Seeds of Love’ at Hambridge more adventurous and came from Wisbech, his house. He shares Brewers supplemented the family Street/Halswell Lane area of the town, amid a number came from , James Creedy, Bridgwater Mary Ann Milton, Mallet one hundred years ago. Cambridgeshire. It is not known when she married, but Ann Welch, Shepton with Cecil Sharp the John Culley, Farrington /Old, Cleeve Mrs Tilley, Clutton income through willow of other singers. They worked at brickmaking and later but had been living in Beauchamp by 1907 she was travelling with her husband and Gurney John Stark, Wiveliscombe You can also find out distinction of having an Emma Welch, Isle Brewers peeling or ‘withy-stripping’. as scavengers and stone-breakers, work probably given Hazlebury since the Mrs. Franks Nempnett, Richard Thorne, Withypool Weston Super Mare / Harry Richards several small children. Cecil Sharp met her near obituary published in Lizzie Welch, Hambridge 2 John Short, Thrubwell Robert Parish, Exford Burnham area where to go to hear folk She was fond of a drink, them in return for poor relief. Cecil Sharp met them 1860s. Her husband died Alfred Willy, Hambridge Simonsbath in August that The Times. Mr. Gordge, Bridgwater Albert Pool, Exford Harry Richards (1840- unusually preferring beer to through the agency of Revd. W.K. Warren, who was between 1881 and 1891 Mr Bailey, Bleadon year, and was so 1905 Tom Hatry, Bridgwater Robert Pope, Minehead Mary Brewer, songs, see folk traditions, 1925) spent all his life in cider, and she was outside curate of St. Mary’s church and the Workhouse and she later lived with her William Brister, Ilminster Joseph Laver, Bridgwater John Thorne, Halse impressed that he called Miss Doveton-Brown, Mrs. Dabbenett, Barrington A.A. Clarke, Wells Mr. Voolacott, Dulverton Curry Rivel, living in Old a pub when Cecil Sharp chaplain. ‘Jack Barnard’ had no use of his legs, at a son Robert. She died in watch folk dances and her performance of the William Durkin, Ilminster William Mantell, Bridgwater Robert Willliams, Churchay and later near 13 Elizabeth Mogg Albert Dowden, Huntspill first met her. She asked time when disabled children did not usually attend March 1915. Anne Dyke, Kingsbury William Mead, Bridgwater Execution Song ‘the finest Mrs Duddridge, Mark perhaps join in. There’s the Bell Hotel. He was a what he wanted, and on school, so he was illiterate, but he had a store of more Episcopi Mrs. Porter, Bridgwater Susan Williams, Hazelbury Elizabeth Mogg was born in Over Stowey in 1830. She 1907 Eliza Dunstan, Mark and most characteristic bit Thomas, Hendy, Ilminster Lily Porter, Bridgwater quarryman by trade, but a being told it was songs, than 150 songs and helped Cecil Sharp get contact Plucknett was living in Betsy Holland, Simonsbath Sam Evry, Bleadon lots of opportunity here in of singing I had ever Ann Lacey, Drayton Mrs. Simmonds, Ubley Richard Mailby, Exford Mr Hole, Clevedon gardener by choice, as danced him round and with other singers, most notably Elizabeth Porter and in 1881 and working as a Abraham Lawrence, Ilminster James Southward, Bridgwater heard.’ He caught up with C A Johnson, Charterhouse Cecil Sharp’s photograph George Lawrence, Kingsbury John Stafford, Bishop’s 1908 this most musical of round ‘with the utmost Emma Overd at her home in her daughter Lily, who lived next door. dressmaker, and although Ben Leader, the family a few days Episcopi Sutton Mary Ann Burnett, shows. His large and wide vigour’, shouting to her Knapp’s Lane, Westover, Samuel Norris, later, on the road to unmarried had a son born at Mrs. Joseph Ree, Hambridge Albert Stock, Temple Cloud, Minehead/Old Cleeve counties. So come all ye! Langport Mrs Pople, Brent Knoll repertoire enlarged Cecil’s friends that her ‘beau’ had . By 1891 she had Cameley Elizabeth Edbrook, 1907: MINEHEAD AND EXMOOR Bideford, and then in Fred Patch Langport John Trump, knowledge of folk song and come at last. Cecil was fascinated by her large, wide, migrated to Dodington, Johnathan Pearce, Draycott January 1908 tracked Mrs. Trump, North Petherton enriched the published Folk 1903 1909 Charles Porter, Bleadon and unusual repertoire of songs. It is possible that William Sparks where she lived in the Benjamin Watts, Farrington ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Harry Richards of Curry Rivel 9 down the grandmother, Henry Payne, Curry Rivel William Kingdon, Simonsbath Mr Stileman, Weston Super Songs from Somerset. He is these came from her paternal grandmother, Rebecca Gurney Research & compilation by Rebecca Holland, from Betsy Holland household of her brother-in- Mare William Sparks (1854-1916) was born and spent all 1904 Charles Webb, Puriton 1914 buried at Curry Rivel. Weaver, born in the 1770s, who cared for the family law Henry Chilcott, with Henry Tidball, Wedmore Yvette Staelens and C. J. Bearman whom Betsy said she learned the song. Mrs. Bray, Langport Charlotte Webb, Puriton Ada Baker, Withypool his life in Minehead, at 1 Middle Street, Higher Town. Mr Watts, Worle Published by Cultural Service after her mother’s death in 1846. Emma’s husband James Squires, another Emma Glover, Huish Episcopi Charles Young, Puriton Captain Hole, Watchet Susan Wilson, His father John was a blacksmith and William followed Mr. Hartland, Curry Rivel Mr. , Blue Anchor © Yvette Staelens & Somerset County Council died in 1914, but she lived on in good health until singer. Cecil Sharp collected 1907 3 Lucy White & Louie Hooper in the trade, though Mrs. Hull, Langport John Short, Watchet 1927, then went into a decline which ended in her Alfred Edgell, Chew Magna Taunton area Design by Andrew Crane 1908: QUANTOCKS from her in Holford and she Eliza Hutchings, Langport Sarah Tarr, Dulverton he is also said to Elizabeth Barnard, Bridgwater Lucy White and Louisa (‘Louie’) Hooper were half- death the following year. She is buried at Curry Rivel, was buried from Hilton Elizabeth Mogg, Doddington Mrs. Kettle, Langport Workhouse Samuel Barman, Durston Printed by Remous Ltd, Alfred Chard, Chew Stoke have rented and Holford Mrs. Maisie, Langport Edwin Thomas, Dulverton Mr Burnett, Bradford on Tone Photos: Somerset singers © EFDSS (except Lucy White sisters, born in 1848 and 1860 respectively. Their and has an entry in the Dictionary of National 12 John Short Cottages, in that village, in William Chorley, Bridgwater Emma Overd, Langport Union Mr Dommett, Pitminster private collection); Ian Tapscott; David Sutcliffe; David mother, Mrs. England, had been one of the most properties to holiday- Susan Clark, Bridgwater Biography. Jack Barnard Lily Porter, Jack Barnard’s March 1921. Mrs. Palmer, Langport David Oaten, Taunton Lawrence; John Howson, Yvette Staelens makers. His song John Short (1838-1933) was born at Watchet, but Walter Edgell, Chew Magna renowned singers in the district until her death in neighbour in Bridgwater Mrs. Perry, Langport The Quantocks William Huxtable, Taunton John Fackrell, Bridgwater Research generously supported by the Marc Fitch Fund ‘The Two Magicians’ became a deep-sea sailor, spending his time on Harry Richards, Curry Rivel Betsey Smith, Creech St 1892. Both married, but Louie was widowed within Revd. Hargreaves, East 1904 Frederick Crossman Christopher Shire, Langport Michael 5 was the only item windjammers because he did not consider that 7 Harptree Jim Squires, Holford months. By 1901 they were living in adjacent houses 7 George Wyatt Ellen Trott, Langport Charles Spiller, Pitminster The information on this map has been compiled in good faith and steamships produced ‘real sailors’. After he retired Mrs. Hill, Bridgwater Fred Crossman was born at Huish Episcopi in 1846. Cecil Sharp collected Jane Wheller, Langport 1906 Caroline Passmore, Pitminster George (1822-1907) and Lydia (1828-1916) Wyatt Ernest King, East Harptree Somerset Council will accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions from him, but it was from the sea he returned to Watchet, became the William Bailey, Cannington Mr Passmore, Pitminster His acquaintance with folk music began when he was 1905 John King, Chew Stoke howsoever caused. were among several singers in West Harptree from Hugh Barrett, Cannington Benjamin Warren, Taunton a boy, buying ballad sheets at Bridgwater Fair. As a unique in Somerset Caroline Cox, Florence Lockett, East Louisa Barrett, Cannington whom Cecil Sharp collected in 1904-5, with the aid of A Victorian passion Albert Crossman, Huish Harptree young man, he worked as a gardener in and and rare elsewhere. Charlotte Binding, Stogursey Bridgwater area Episcopi Mrs. Marchant, the Kettlewell family. He was an agricultural labourer Cecil Sharp was not the first or the only John Bromham, Cannington before returning to Huish and setting up as a William became ill in Frederick Crossman, Huish Bridgwater/North Alfred Emery, who spent all his life in the village, and it is William Burland, Stogursey 1916 and died in Willliam Sparks at his forge in Somerset folk song collector. Other collectors Episcopi Petherton George Emery, Othery market gardener with his brother Albert. It is probably Elizabeth Coles, Nether interesting that they gave their sons Minehead busy in Somerset include, Kate Lee (1859- Mrs. Fido, Langport Richard Olding, Bridgwater Charlotte Hector, not a coincidence that they both lived near Emma Taunton Hospital. Stowey 9 1904), a concert and opera singer who was the Mabel Sandford, Drayton Lavinia Rendall, Chew Magna Burrowbridge Biblical names – Absalom, Grace Coles, Enmore Glover, another noted singer, and also near the Rose first Secretary of the Folk Song Society. She Eliza Small, Langport Friendship Roynan, Chew James Lockyer, Edwin Davey, Cannington Mark, and William Snow, Somerton Magna Sarah Clarke, Meare and Crown pub. Fred and Albert advertised their collected sea songs in Minehead in the 1890s. Mrs. Davey, Cannington 2 Charles Marson Matthew. After 12 Lucy Swaine, Somerton Mrs. Sage, Chew Magna Samuel Crane, Meare Henry Hammond (1866-1910) and George Mrs. Graddon, Stogursey produce in local newspapers and drove to sell it at Frank Sampson, Pensford Edmund Easton, Meare George’s death 11 10 13 Gardiner (1852- 1906 John Haste, Enmore Charles Marson was Bridgwater. Their business prospered, and neither Mrs. Walters, Bridgwater Jacob Giblett, Meare 1910) were Edward Harrison, Langport Jack Crewys, Halse born into a clergyman’s Lydia entered John Wedlock, Chew Magna Charles Norris, Meare brother conforms to the common picture of the poor, 15 Mary Ann Lawrence, Elizabeth Loveless, Stolford teachers and Mrs Selway, family on 16 May1859, Louie Hooper on the canal Lucy White, Westport, Clutton Somerton 1908 Elizabeth Mogg, Holford downtrodden folk singer, because Albert left more than educationalists. Oliver Shutler, Compton bridge outside her home at Hambridge Workhouse (workhouses were the old peoples’ homes Betsy Pike, Somerton Robert Baker, North W.S. Poole, Chipstable educated at Clifton Interestingly he does not They began Dundon Westport, Hambridge £1,000 in his will 6 Eliza Sweet, Somerton Petherton James Proll, of the day) where she died. collecting in 1905- William Tucker, Ashcott College and University and Fred £880. He conform to the poor folk singer Thomas Green, Wells James Thomas, Cannington in Westport, and Charles Marson was trying hard to get 1907 Frederick Vowles, Meare College Oxford. In 1889 6, Gardiner in Bath Workhouse ‘Junior’ Thomas, Cannington their living conditions improved. They were among the was a well-known stereotype, because he received a lengthy Workhouse and Miss Gooding, Somerton George Whitcombe, Meare he went to Australia Mrs. Jarrett, Bridgwater John Thorne, Halse first singers collected from by Cecil Sharp, and he was local character and obituary in the local newspaper, and one of his Hammond in the 1909 Mrs. Jarvis, Bridgwater William Tucker, and met Cecil Sharp in Yeovil area immensely fortunate to find them at the very outset of bell-ringer until his sons was serving in the mounted Yeomanry of Taunton area, until Mrs. Tucker, Huish Episcopi William Patch, Winford Eliza Wilkins, Over Stowey Tom Pearce, Winford William Cornelius, South Adelaide. They death in 1933. the district. they moved on to 1907 his collecting career, because they were natural Harptree & Bridgwater George Say, Axbridge Petherton immediately became Hampshire and Eliza Hill, Over Stowey Workhouse Caroline Hill, musicians with a huge repertoire of songs. Louie Dorset respectively. 1904 Henry Pain, friends. In 1892, 4 Mrs Lock, singer of Elizabeth Seeley, Bridgwater / Hooper in particular loved instrumental music, and Priscilla Wyatt- George Currel, West Harptree / 10 5 Muchelney Ham Elsie Simmons, East Harptree Walter Locock, Martock Marson and his family Robert Parish John Durbin, East Harptree Elizabeth Starkey, Over Cecil gave her a . Lucy died in 1923, but Edgell (1872-1934) photographed by Cecil William Stokes, Chew Stoke John Matravers, Yeovil 15 Benjamin Horler, East Stowey returned to England Robert Parish (1822-1909) was among several lived at Cowley Sharp probably in April William Walter, Wells John Swain, Louie lived on to become the Grand Old Lady of Harptree Charlotte Villis, Over Stowey where he struggled to 2 Place, near Exeter, 1904 Workhouse singers whom Cecil Sharp met in Exford. He F.B. Kettlewell, East Harptree Mrs. Ware, Over Stowey Somerset folk song and be visited by the increasing Frederick Crossman George Wyatt and and besides work in Location not Known find work. After curacies in Soho and Somers Town William King, East Harptree 1909 Emma, Wilkins Combwich numbers who followed in Cecil’s footsteps. In 1942-43 of Huish Episcopi his wife Lydia at was born in 1822 and spent all his life in the 14 1 Devon collected in Minehead and mid- he was appointed vicar of Hambridge in 1895. their cottage in West 3 16 Elizabeth Price, Compton Lucy Dunston, Bridgwater Eliza Woodberry, Ash Priors John Meetch or Weetch she was visited by Douglas Cleverdon of the BBC, and village, working as a gardener and living in Glebe Somerset, sending the results to Cecil Sharp. Martin Francis Trusler, Wells/Mells Charles Wooley, Nether Walter Raymond Charles was a Christian Socialist and in Hambridge Harptree several of her songs were recorded for posterity. She Cottage, next to the church. His son Robert was a E.T.W. Wedmore was a Folk Song Society John Purnell, East Harptree 1913 Stowey Mrs Stanswell he put his beliefs into practice, symbolically washing member who collected in Minehead. Cecil John Stevens, Compton G.F.C. Peppin, Marston William Wooley, Over Stowey died on Ash Wednesday 1946. The sisters have an tailor, and that may be one of the reasons for his the feet of poor village boys on Maundy Thursday Sharp also had a number of collaborators, Martin Magna entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. smart appearance in Cecil’s photograph. Among the John Voke, Priddy chiefly clergy and their families like D.M. Ross, 1914 and persuading the villagers to make their own George Wyatt, West Harptree songs collected from him was ‘The Beggarman’, vicar of Langport, Gerald Henry Bailey, Bridgwater Lydia Wyatt, West Harptree Nativity Play and act in it; he also tried to get descended from ‘Back and 16 Peppin at Marston Charles Bonny, Bridgwater landlords to improve the cottages in which his Side Go Bare’ which was first Magna, and the Sorby 1905 Dorothy Bonney, Bridgwater George Withers was born in 1924, the year at the National Folk Festival and at festivals 8 James Bale, Bridgwater Irene Bonney, Bridgwater Sunday Folk Club poorest parishioners lived. He helped to establish a 14 printed in 1557. Robert Parish family at Enmore, but that Cecil Sharp died, into a Somerset from Wadebridge to Whitby and in the west perhaps the most Richard Barnard, Priddy William Hobbs, Bridgwater branch of the Independent Labour Party in Langport A LIVING remained in good health to the James Bishop, Priddy farming family. He has sung all his life and of Ireland. ‘I have met some lovely people, I remarkable was Alice in 1908 and was a popular preacher at local Martha Badley, North ‘Hazlebury Plucknett’ TRADITION end of his life, and had taken Snow in Somerton. The remembers his father singing and whistling don’t know much about them, they could be Petherton Halsway celebrations, well known for his ability to make 1904 his usual walk, inspected his Town Crier, and devotedly nursed his wife, who was daughter and grand- John Briffett, Bridgwater as he went about his daily work on the farm. George has always enjoyed village life criminals, but we are all brothers in song’. To Mr. Bollen, First Sunday in the month (except August) congregations laugh. He and Cecil Sharp collected vegetable garden, and eaten crippled by arthritis. In 1914, he was visited by Cecil daughter of folk singers, William Briffett, Bridgwater Manor and especially the gatherings that necessitated doing ‘a turn’ on the village hall stage. hear George sing and perhaps recite some of she had risen from a Thomas Brunt, Blagdon 1905 A friendly group that meets in the Halsway lounge at folk songs together initially, but in 1906 they his dinner when he collapsed Sharp, who in three days collected from him over sixty 8pm. We welcome singers, players, writers, readers and He learned many songs from his parents and when he moved to a farm at Isle his poetry inspired by rural life, visit the poor background to Wilson Champ, East Harptree John Holt, Hazelbury quarrelled and never saw one another again. On 3 and died suddenly, while his sea shanties, many of which were not previously listeners. Informal and relaxed atmosphere. Bar open. Abbots he met Harry Adams a great singer and storyteller who fuelled George’s monthly song session at Eli’s in Huish Gerald Peppin became a musically- Robert Dibble, Bridgwater Plucknett March 1914, Charles Marson died from a heart daughter was making him a known. He was afterwards visited by another sea- literate elementary school teacher who collected Thomas Griffiths, Bridgwater Henry Larcombe, Hazelbury Contact: Deryck Deane interest in traditional songs. George has travelled widely in the folk scene appearing Episcopi. Samuel Horler, Ubley Plucknett attack. Cecil Sharp attended the funeral. George Withers photo: John Howson shanty collector, Sir Richard Terry. He was a very from her grandmother Betsy Pike and others. cup of tea. Jessie Jefferies, Cheddar Caroline Laurence, Merriott Robert Parish, Exford remarkable natural musician, with a deep, powerful, Selina Lawrence, Merriott www.halswaymanor.org.uk