folktrax 265 - THE LASS OF RICHMOND HILL - Songs & Customs of the Yorkshire Dales

Peter Kennedy travelled up Swaledale in 1954, first recordings at "The Punch Bowl", Low Reeth and then, further up the dale, meeting the Keld Singers. Back again in August 1959 he visited Wensleydale and, at the suggestion of Nigel & Mary Hudleston, he met Tom Horner, of Home Farm, Swithinwaite, who remembered being visited by "The Vessel Cup Singers". Then at West Witton he recorded the local fire custom, "The Burning of Bartle", a midsummer straw guy with torch battery eye-bulbs, set alight after a series of ritual shouts.

1. BEAUTIFUL SWALEDALE sung by Oliver Kendal - 3'59"

2. THE LASS OF RICHMOND HILL introduced by John Hutchinson of Richmond, sung by Thomas Kendall with chorus: Douglas Templeton, Matthew Kendall and Charles Spenceley - 3'22"

3. THE LITTLE FARM WELL TILLED sung by Douglas Templeton with Thomas and Matthew Kendall - 2'41"

4. THE SWALEDALE SONG (words by Reynoldson) sung by Douglas with chorus - 3'09"

5. THE YORKSHIRE LASS sung by The Keld Singers, Laurie Rukin with Chris and Dick Alderson introduced by Dick Guy - 2'46"

6. KEEP YOURSELF STEADILY MOVING, LADS - 3'26"

7. THE WHITE COCKADE - 3'30"

8. THE YORKSHIREMAN'S COAT OF ARMS spoken by Tom Horner - 0'36"

9. Local Christmas Song - 3'48"

10. Poem about Bartle Fair at Reath - 1'19"

11. Wensleydale Song and talk about Nigger Troupe - 3'38"

12. PACE-EGGING SONG (Preston-under Scar) with talk - 3'37"

13. New Year Begging Rhyme - 1'01"

14. Talk about his life - 1'18

15. Carol: GOD REST YE MERRY GETLEMEN and talk about The Vessel Cup- Singers - 1'41"

16. THE BURNING OF BARTLE "The Shout" followed by talk by Jim Ward with Edward and Alan Harker rec by PK West Witton, Wensleydale - 4'13"

Recorded 1954-1959, edited by Peter Kennedy and first published by Folktrax 1975