Where I Live

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-1977
 

Bussage

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#Gloucestershire
 

Coates

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 site
 

Longborough

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 Gill
 

Shurdington

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