Version 1 – Collected from Isaac Bennett by Cecil Sharp 2 April 1907
Song Manuscripts | Song as collected | Copy to download and sing |
MIDIs | MIDI – as collected | Use collected Midi to sing |
Contemporary version – TarranGray | C07_SingRecordHT_Waysail_LittleSod_Bennett |
Version 2 – Learnt by Richard Chidlaw from Mr Hatherall in July 197o and recorded by Gwilym Davies from Richard Chidlaw on 12 October 1994.
Archive Recording – Richard Chidlaw |
Archive Recording (Richard Chidlaw) | |
Song Manuscripts | Song as collected | Use collected copy for singing |
Little Sodbury – A group of six or seven lads, aged 14-21 would come round to the lawn in front of Little Sodbury Manor. They brought with them the Horton Bull, which was two men under a papier maché head with a tail going down the back, and they had ribs of beef, a tambourine, a jew’s harp and a mouth organ. The bull would roar and chase the girls and make them scream. They had a bowl made of white wood decorated all over with ribbons and garlands of evergreen, from which they would drink. [Information supplied to Richard Chidlaw and Brian Hayward by retired farmer, Mr Hatherall at Wickwar, July 1970. Further information on the Horton Bull was supplied to Richard Chidlaw by the following: Mr Jones of Badminton, Mrs Gentry, Mr Lewis of Chipping Sodbury and Mr & Mrs Gingell of Hawkesbury, the sister of “Granny” Frankcom.
Mr Hatherall was a spectator at this custom rather than a participant. Richard Chidlaw still sings the song as he collected it. It is interesting to note the differences between the 1907 tune and the 1970 tune, the latter having lost some of the decorations.