Where do these songs and traditions come from? These songs and traditions have been collected from many places all over Gloucestershire. Is your town or village listed below? – use the ‘Search’ facility on the Home page on this site to find out more. (Where a local contact has been made by GlosSongs a link is given to societies that have contributed information and detail.)
Ampney Crucis
Songs: Ampney Crucis Wassail given by Riley Wall in 1930s
Arlingham
Songs: Waysailing Bowl (Arlingham) sung by Lem Hayward in Jan 1977 and later
Songs: Hark, hark What News given by Fred Archer from 1920s manuscript
Badminton
Songs: Badminton Wassail sung by Bill Davis on 17-Apr-1972
Beckford
Songs: Cherry Tree Carol sung by Mary Anne Roberts on 08-Apr-1909
Bentham/Witcombe
Songs: Bentham/Witcombe Wassail words note in Cheltenham Onlooker on 21-Dec-1912
Bisley
Songs: The Waysailing Bowl (Bisley) words from H.W.Dean 1929c-1935c Songs: Waysailing Bowl (Bisley) sung by Madge Stevens on 30-Jan-1977 Songs: While Shepherds watched sung by Madge Stevens family on 1-Dec-1987 /30 Jan 1977 Mummers: Bisley Mummers –Brockweir
Songs: Brockweir Wassail sung by Charley Williams in 1964 Songs: A Virgin Unspotted sung by Charley Williams on 19-Oct-1977 Songs: Jacob’s Well sung by Charley Williams 19-Oct-1977 Songs: Our Saviour’s Love sung by Charley Williams 19-Oct-1977 Songs: The Holly and the Ivy sung by Charley Williams in 1977 Songs: Three Talks about Carols and Wassailing talk by Charley Williams tbc Songs: While Shepherds watched sung by Charley Williams on 19-Nov-1977Bussage
Mummers: Ragged & Old Mummers -Traditional play(site says)
Cam
Songs: O Grand and O Bright sung by Betty Aldridge on 12-Oct-1995
Cheltenham
Mummers: Cheltenham Mummers -on youtube
Chipping Campden
Songs: Cherry Tree Carol sung by Mary Ann Clayton on 13-Jan-1909 Songs: Holly and the Ivy sung by Mary Ann Clayton on 13-Jan-1909 Mummers: Chipping Campden Mummers History Help: CADHAS -Campden and District Historical and Archaeology Society (CADHAS)Chipping Sodbury
Songs: Come all you true good Christians sung by Henry Thomas on 03-Apr-1907
History Help: Sodbury and District Historical Society -no web site
Churchdown
Songs: The Holly and the Ivy sung by Harry Boucher (Mr) in 1988
Cinderford
Songs: Cherry Tree Carol sung by John William Partridge on 22-Aug-1952 Songs: The Cock fled up in the Yew Tree sung by Stan & Gwen Partridge on 14-Jul-1994 Mummers: -Play script on internet http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/CountyList.htm#GloucestershireCoates
Songs: As Joseph was a-walking sung by Charles Smith on 10-Apr-1911
Songs: Dilly Song sung by John Bradley on 31-Mar-1912
Eastington
Songs: Eastington (Slimbridge?) Wassail sung by Betty Aldridge in Nov 1990
Songs: Eastington Customs of Wassail circa 1890 talk by Betty Aldridge in Nov 1990
Frocester
Songs: Frocester Wassail sung by Harry Aldrich on 25-Apr-1966
Gloucester
Mummers: City of Gloucester Mummers -on youtube
Hampton Fields
Songs: Hampton Fields Wassail sung by Billy Cox by Richard Chidlaw on 03-Oct-1972
Hardwicke/Longney
Songs: Hardwicke/Longney Wassail sung by Marjorie Woods Prosser in April 1943
Hartbury
Songs: While Shepherds watched sung by Mel Jones from Harold Merriman 1947 in Jan 1995
Highnam
Mummers: Lassington Oak Morris Mummers -revived 1996, previous performance early 1900s
Icomb
Mummers: -Play script on internet http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/CountyList.htm#Gloucestershire
Kempsford
Mummers: -Play script on internet http://www.folkplay.info/Text/CountyList.htm#Gloucestershire
Laverton
Songs: On Christmas Time (All Christians Sing) sung by William Bayliss on 7-Apr-1909 (also 6-4-09)
Songs: Wassail Song (Laverton, Buckland) sung by William Bayliss on 07-Apr-1909
History Help: Buckland Parish Council -no web site
Little Sodbury
Songs: Wassail Song (Little Sodbury) sung by Isaac Bennett on 02-Apr-1907 Songs: Waysailing Bowl (Little Sodbury sung by Mr Hatherall by Richard Chidlaw on 12-Oct-1994 History Help: Sodbury and District Historical Society -no web siteLongborough
Mummers: -Play script on internet http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/CountyList.htm#Gloucestershire
Marshfield
Mummers: Marshfield Paper Boys -on youtube
Minchinhampton
Songs: Minchinhampton Wassail words note from Social Life in Glos in a Booklet covering 1850-1950
Nailsworth, Winsor Edge
Songs: Nailsworth Wassail sung by Archie Gardiner in Apr 1972
Old Sodbury
Songs: Joys of Mary sung by Joseph Evans on 03-Apr-1907
Songs: Twelve Joys of Mary given by Mrs Keziah Hawkins on 02-Apr-1907
History Help: Sodbury and District Historical Society -no web site
Quedgeley
Songs: Quedgeley Wassail custom explained words from Glos Echo quote printed 1990s re-earlier time
Rockness
Mummers: Rockness Mummers -written in 2001 and performed by the people of Rockness in a ring of fire on the street on twelfth night
Ruardean
Mummers: Forest of Dean Morris Mummer -Morris Men’s costume is based on the Ruardean kit of the 1880’s
Sapperton
Mummers: -Play script on internet http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/CountyList.htm#Gloucestershire
Sheepscombe
Songs: Christ Came To Christmas sung by Peter Gill on 02-Apr-1912 Songs: The Moon Shines Bright Sung by Peter Gill on 02-Apr-1912 History Help: Sheepscombe History Society -help tracing Peter GillShurdington
Songs: Seven Joys of Mary sung by Dick Parsons on 28-0ct-1979
Songs: Waysailing Bowl sung by Dick Parsons on 27-Jul-1974
Snowshill
Songs: The Bitter Withy sung by John Hands on 09-Apr-1909
South Cerney
Mummers: -Play script on internet http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/CountyList.htm#Gloucestershire
St. Briavels
Songs: Wassailing Song (Brockweir) as sung by Margaret Eyre (Miss) in 1958
Staunton
Songs: A Virgin Unspotted sung by Harry Boucher (Mr) in 1988
Stow-on-Wold
Songs: We Wish You a Merry Christmas sung by Miss Jessie Howman on 11-Aug-1966
Stroud
Songs: Waysailing Bowl customs talk by Unknown man Stroud on 19-Nov-1979
Mummers: Stroud Mummers –
Tetbury
Songs: Tetbury Wassail sung by Reg Wilkins circa 1990
History Help: History of Tetbury Society – recorded the Tetbury Wassail on this site
Tewkesbury
Songs: A Virgin Unspotted sung by Elizabeth Smitherd on 11-Apr-1908
Mummers: Tewkesbury Mummers –
Twyning
Songs: Twyning Wassail Rhyme-talk talk by Ron Pate 07-Jul-1985
Uley
Songs: Uley Wassail sung by Edgar Beeston in 1975
Waterley Bottom
Mummers: Waterley Bottom Mummers –
Weston-sub-Edge
Mummers: -Play script on internet http://www.folkplay.info/Texts/CountyList.htm#Gloucestershire
Winchcombe
Mummers: Winchcombe Mummers (Happenstance Border Morris) –
Winterbourne Down
Mummers: Christmas Boys of Winterbourn Down -as remembered by Mrs Edith Penton, born in the village of Winterbourn Down
Woodchester
Songs: Waysailing Bowl (Woodchester) sung by Billy Buckingham on 13-Feb-1979
Songs: Waysailing Custom (Woodchester) talk by Billy Buckingham on 13-Feb-1979
Yorkley Slade
Songs: The Twelve Apostles Sung by Cameron Riley Johnson 04-Oct-1975