Recorded by David Bland between November 1972 and September 1973.

Singers

Frank Beaumont [6, 9], Barry Bridgewater [1, 3, 6], Jim Brookes [3], Cyril Ford [4, 6], Leslie Garside [10], Frank Hinchliffe [6, 8], Arthur Howard [6, 11], Stuart Kay [5]

Tracks

Side 1

1. On a Fine Hunting Morn (Roud 1871)
2. Castle Hill Anthem (Roud 660; Laws O30; TYG 51)
3. Old Snowball (Roud 190)
4. The Scent Was Good (Roud 1873)
5. The Brown Hare of Whitebrook (Roud 1870, 24902)

Side 2

6. Gossip John (Roud 1039; TYG 54)
7. The Hounds Are Out (Roud 1869)
8. Joe the Carrier’s Lad (Roud 1080; G/D 3:457; Henry H171)
9. Some Gentlemen Take Great Delight (Roud 358, 1868)
10. Doctor Mack (Roud 1861; Henry H222)
11. Holmfirth Anthem (Roud 1046; TYG 55)

Track 1 sung by Barry Bridgewater at The Stanhope Arms, Dunford Bridge, Yorkshire, 17 November 1972;
Tracks 2, 7 recorded at The Stanhope Arms, Dunford Bridge, Yorkshire, 17 November 1972;
Track 3 sung by Barry Bridgewater and Jim Brookes at the Village Hall, Upperthong, Yorkshire, 24 March 1973;
Track 4 sung by Cyril Ford at the Village Hall, Upperthong, Yorkshire, 24 March 1973;
Track 5 sung by Stuart Kay at the Village Hall, Upperthong, Yorkshire, 24 March 1973;
Track 6 sung by Frank Beaumont, Barry Bridgewater, Cyril Ford, Frank Hinchliffe and Arthur Howard at The Stanhope Arms, Dunford Bridge, Yorkshire, 17 November 1972;
Track 8 sung by Frank Hinchliffe at The Stanhope Arms, Dunford Bridge, Yorkshire, 17 November 1972;
Track 9 sung by Frank Beaumont at the Village Hall, Upperthong, Yorkshire, 24 March 1973;
Track 10 sung by Leslie Garside at the Village Hall, Upperthong, Yorkshire, 24 March 1973;
Track 11 sung by Arthur Howard at the Village Hall, Upperthong, Yorkshire, 24 March 1973

Sleeve Notes by David Bland

The rich tradition which surrounds hunting in the British Isles includes a body of sound which is capable of appealing even to those whose inclination is strongly against blood sports. This record includes the singing of one of the more unusual English hunts, unusual that is if your mental image of a hunt includes imperious fox-chasing horsemen, riding rough-shod and redcoated over gently undulating, lush countryside. The Holme Valley hunting ground is high in the Pennines. Horses are not used and foxes are not hunted, but after a good day’s hunting they do enjoy an evenings good singing and it is from some of these evenings that this record is made.

Recorded and produced by Ian Russell in 1981;
Sleeve design by Mike Smith;
Drawing of Arthur Howard by Dave Carless

Musicians

Arthur Howard, vocals

Tracks

Side 1

1. Rolling on the Grass (Roud 1768; TYG 44)
2. Merry Mountain Child (Roud 1769; TYG 42)
3. Old Jepson Brown (Roud 3354; TYG 43) /
   I Bought Three Pigs at Marsden Fair (Roud 1737; G/D 8:1661)
4. Water Rattle (Bold Grenadier) (Roud 140; Laws P14; TYG 34) /
   Nutting Girl (Roud 509; G/D 7:1475)
5. Powder Monkey (Roud 1770)
6. Muffin Man (Roud 1771; TYG 87)

Side 2

7. Farmer’s Dog (Roud 1772)
8. Sucking Pig (Roud 574; TYG 45)
9. The Death of Poor Bill Brown (Roud 609; TYG 41) (3.11)
10. It Was Night and the Moon Illuminated the Sky (Roud 9632; Henry H61ab)
11. Pace-Egging Song (Roud 614; TYG 53)
12. Christmas Goose (Roud 3204; TYG 40)

Recorded by Bill Leader and Alistair Miller at Leake Hall Farm, Denby Dale, on 8 September 1984;
Photograph by Derek G. Widdicombe;
Notes by Ian Russell

Singers

William Noble [1, 3, 6, 11, 14];
Barry Bridgewater [1, 4, 7-8];
John Cocking [1-2, 10, 12];
Ernest Yates [1, 5, 9, 13]

Tracks

Side 1

1. [all] Holmwoods (Roud 614; TYG 53)
2. [JC] White House
3. [WN] Friezland Ale (Roud 12916; TYG 52)
4. [BB] Drink Puppy Drink (Roud 1862)
5. [EY] The Houndpup and Me (Roud 24915)
6. [WN] The German Clockmender (Roud 241)
7. [BB] Joe the Carrier’s Lad (Roud 1080; G/D 3:457; Henry H171)

Side 2

8. [BB] Bright Rosy Morning (Roud 21097)
9. [EY] With Bowman Let’s Go (Roud 1858)
10. [JC] Renshaw’s Mule
11. [WN] Master Smith Says to John (Roud 24900; TYG 50)
12. [JC] I Mind the Day
13. [EY] Nancy Miles
14. [WN] Pratty Flowers (Roud 1046; TYG 55)

All tracks trad. except
Track 3 words Ammon Wrigley

Recorded live in Will Noble’s barn in Denby Dale, Yorkshire on 27 September 1986.
Published by the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library

Musicians

Holme Valley Tradition,
The Copper Family,
Bob Davenport & The Rakes,
Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson

Tracks

1. The Rakes: Leitrim Fancy / Red-Haired Lad hornpipes
2. Holme Valley Tradition: Master Smith (Roud 24900; TYG 50)
3. Barry Bridgewater: Merry Mountain Child (Roud 1769; TYG 42) (3.27)
4. Holme Valley Tradition: The Farmer’s Boy (Roud 408; Laws Q30; G/D 5:960)
5. John Cocking: T’ Ordnance at Burton (3.44)
6. Holme Valley Tradition: Lish Young Buy-a-Broom (Roud 1865)
7. The Rakes: Mrs Kenny / Men of the West waltzes
8. Bob Davenport & The Rakes: There’s Nae Luck About the Hoose / Keel Row (Roud 3059) / Working on the Railway schottisches
9. The Copper Family: Brisk Young Ploughboy (Roud 1205)
10.  — : Come All Ye Bold Britons (Roud 1214)
11.  — : You Gentlemen of High Renown (Roud 190)
12.  — : Spencer the Rover (Roud 1115; TYG 3)
13. The Rakes: Tralee Gaol / Maggie in the Wood polkas
14. Holme Valley Tradition: Drink Old England Dry (Roud 882)
15.  — : Carrickfergus (Roud 26183)
16.  — : How We Saved the Barge
17. Martin Carthy & Norma Waterson: May Song (Roud 305) (2.18)
18. Norma Waterson: T Stands for Thomas (Roud 419; Henry H593)
19. Bob Davenport & The Rakes: We Were Waltzing That Night in Kentucky / Pal of My Cradle-Days / You Always Hurt the One You Love
20. Bob Davenport: September Song
21. Bob Davenport & The Rakes: We’re Leaving Tipperary
22. The Copper Family: Babes in the Wood (Roud 288; Laws Q34)
23.  — : The Horse the Missus Dries the Clothes On (Roud 5661)
24. The Copper Family with Martin Carthy & Norma Waterson (and a very young Eliza Carthy?): Shepherds Arise (Roud 1207)

Track 3 and 5 were included in 2003 on Roots & Wings;
Track 17 was included in 2004 on The Watersons: Mighty River of Songs

Recorded by John Howson and Ian Russell;
Tracks 1, 4, 6, 11, 16 recorded at Barnsley Folk Club;
Track 2 recorded by John Howson at Oxspring, Yorkshire, 1992;
Track 8 recorded by Ian Russell at the Royal Hotel, Dungworth;
Track 14 recorded by Ian Russell at home in Unstone

Musicians

Will Noble: vocals;
Barnsley Folk Club audience: chorus vocals [1, 4, 6, 11, 16];
Frank Hinchliffe (Lodgemoor) and others: chorus vocals [14]

Tracks

1. Swaledale (Roud 8128) (4.02)
2. The Poor Old Weaver’s Daughter (Roud 1277; TYG 48) (2.18)
3. The Sucking Pig (Roud 574; TYG 45) (3.25)
4. The Death of Poor Bill Brown (Roud 609; TYG 41) (3.36)
5. Madge (Roud 3528) (2.11)
6. Johnny Sands (Roud 184; Laws Q3; G/D 2:319) (2.36)
7. The Squire of Tamworth (Roud 141; Laws N20; G/D 1:166; Henry H524) (4.22)
8. The Mistletoe Bough (Roud 2336) (4.19)
9. The Nobleman and the Thresherman (Roud 19; G/D 3:437; Henry H622, 117; TYG 37) (3.39)
10. Come on, Come on (Roud 8129) (2.57)
11. The Nutting Girl (Roud 509; G/D 7:1475) (4.29)
12. Nellie O’Bobs (Roud 8130) (2.19)
13. At the Cross (Roud 8131) (0.20)
14. The Christmas Goose (Roud 3204; TYG 40) (5.35)
15. It Was Night and the Moon Illuminated the Sky (Roud 9632; Henry H61ab) (3.33)
16. Merry Mountain Child (Roud 1769; TYG 42) (4.06)

Most tracks trad., from Arthur Howard;
Tracks 2, 7, 9 trad., from Frank Hinchliffe (Lodgemoor);
Track 6 trad., from Frank Hinchliffe (Holme);
Track 8 Thomas Haynes Bayly;
Track 13 trad., from Arthur Noble;
Track 14 trad., from James Howard

Tracks

CD 1

1. Roy Bailey: Small Rebellion (5.49)
   from Never Leave a Story Unsung (Fuse CFCD398, 1991)
2. Doonans: I’ll Tell My Ma (Roud 2649; Henry H48e) (3.40)
   from Manna from Hebburn (DFBCD02, 2000)
3. The Elliotts of Birtley: Lassie Wi’ the Yellow Coatie (Roud 2582; G/D 4:870) (3.22)
   from Pete and Pat Elliott: Yet Again
4. Flook: Beehive (5.02)
   from Rubai (Flatfish 004CD, 2002)
5. Kate Rusby: I Wish (Roud 60; Laws P25; G/D 6:1170; Henry H683) (4.06)
   from 10 (Pure PRCD10, 2002)
6. Martyn Wyndham-Read: The Squaddie’s Lullaby (3.41)
   from Where Ravens Feed (Fellside FECD157, 2001)
7. Blue Murder: No One Stands Alone (4.49)
   from No One Stands Alone (Topic TSCD537, 2002)
8. The Pack: Reunion Jig / Morrison’s Jig (4.03)
   from 12 Little Devils (Selwyn SYNMCD0005, 2001)
9. Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman: Granite Mill (Roud 1823; Laws G13) (3.19)
   from 1. (IScream EQC002, 2002)
10. The Voice Squad: Annan Water (Roud 6562) (5.10)
    from Holly Wood (Hummingbird HBCD002, 1992)
11. Chris While & Julie Matthews: Walk the Line (4.03)
    from Quest (Fat Cat FATCD009, 2001)
12. Vin Garbutt: Wings (4.39)
    from Vin Garbutt Plugged (Home Roots HRCD 011, 1995)
13. Last Night’s Fun: The Tinkerman’s Daughter (8.48)
    from Dubh (ADA 102 CD, 2001)
14. Barry Dransfield: Jezebel Waltz (3.23)
    from Be Your Own Man (Rhiannon RHYD5003, 1994)
15. Mally: Bobbin-a-Joe (0.24)
    from Mally’s Cotswold Morris Book Volume 2 (Mally DMPCD8802, 2001)

CD 2

1. Mally: Bonnets So Blue (0.49)
   from Mally’s Cotswold Morris Book Volume 2 (Mally DMPCD8802, 2001)
2. Dave Fletcher & Bill Whaley: The Call and the Answer (4.13)
   from Old Men and Love Songs (BILDA002, 2000)
3. John Conolly: Send Us a Postcard (2.45)
   from Send Us a Postcard (JACD01, recorded live at Holmfirth Folk Festival on 8 May 1999)
4. Ray Fisher: Coulter’s Candy (Roud 19019) (3.04)
   from Traditional Songs of Scotland (Saydisc CD-SDL 391, 1991)
5. Tom McConville & Pauline Cato: The New High Level / Mr Kennedy North / La Grande Chain (4.17)
   from By Land and Sea (TCCD01, 1996)
6. Jigby: Jock Stewart (Roud 975) (3.54)
   from Jigby 1979-1999
7. The Witches of Elswick: The Blue Cockade (Roud 191; TYG 2) (5.00)
   from Out of Bed (Fellside FECD180, 2003)
8. The Keelers: On the North See Ground (3.31)
   from The North Sea Ground (Keel KMCD103, 1998)
9. Bedlam: Kendal Ghyll / Spotted Borders (5.01)
   from Evolution of the Lazy Tongue (Selwyn SYNMCD0004, 2000)
10. Barry Bridgewater: Merry Mountain Child (Roud 1769; TYG 42) (3.27)
11. John Cocking: T’ Ordnance at Burton (3.44)
    both from Will’s Barn (EFDSS VWML 002, 1987)
12. Pat Ryan: Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears (5.08)
    from Barefoot Over Stones (Rivington RIVCD048, 2002)
13. Colonel Custard: Albert’s Lost His Marble (3.22)
    from Colonel Custard Tape
14. Tom Napper & Tom Bliss: The Violin (4.59)
    from The Silverlode (Slipjig SlIP006, 2003)
15. Dave Burland: How Will I Ever Be Simple Again (3.20)
    from His Master’s Choice (Road Goes On Forever RGFCD009, 1992)
16. Mighty Zulu Nation: Ingwe Ngonyama (2.17)
    from GIYA (2002)
17. Peeping Tom: The Camels are Coming / Lizzie Lichine (3.39)
    from A Sight for Sore Eyes (Folksound, 1992)
18. Will Noble: The Holmfirth Anthem (Roud 1046; TYG 55) (4.55)
    recorded live at Dewsbury Town Hall with the audience and cast of Folkwork’s English Roots Tour, Waterson:Carthy, Robert Harbron, Chris Wood, Dog Rose Morris on 4 December 2002

Tracks 1-7 recorded live at the Three Horseshoes, Dutton Hill, Essex, on 21 April 2004;
Tracks 8-16 recorded live at the Huntsman, Holmfirth, Yorkshire, on 23 November 2003;
Recorded and produced by Simon Ritchie and John Howson;
Design by John Howson

Musicians

Will Noble, John Cocking: vocals

Tracks

1. Merry Mountain Child (Roud 1769; TYG 42) (3.32)
2. Drink Old England Dry (Roud 882) (3.28)
3. Old Snowball (Roud 190) (3.33)
4. Lish Young Buy-a-Broom (Roud 1865) (4.14)
5. Friezland Ale (Roud 12916; TYG 52) (3.42)
6. Renshaw’s Mule (3.30)
7. Echoing Horn (Roud 878) (2.50)
8. Little Jack (A Poor Chimney Sweepboy) (1.45)
9. Mrs Oldroyd (3.28)
10. Jolly Waggoner (Roud 1088) (2.47)
11. The Nutting Girl (Roud 509; G/D 7:1475) (4.01)
12. The Muffin Man (Roud 1771; TYG 87) (2.29)
13. Over the Mountain (Roud 1773) (3.46)
14. A Man like Thee (Roud 16920) (3.05)
15. Young Banker (Roud 3321) (3.31)
16. Gossip John (Roud 1039; TYG 54) (4.05)

Track 6 William Beaumont;

Recorded by Brian Bedford at Park Head Studios;
Sleeve notes by Brian Peters and John Howson;
Cover picture by Bryan Ledgard;
Design by John Howson

Musicians

Will Noble and his children Cuthbert and Lydia Noble: vocals

Tracks

1. The Brown Hare of Whitebrook (Roud 1870, 24902) (4.46)
2. Edward (Roud 200; Child 13; TYG 35) (2.32)
3. Boys of Marsden (3.09)
4. Nothing Else to Do (Roud 1265) (1.39)
5. Little Musgrave (Roud 52; Child 81) (5.32)
6. It Hails, It Rains (Roud 608; G/D 5:983; TYG 36) (1.37)
7. Doctor Mack (Roud 1861; Henry H222) (3.42)
8. Watercresses (Roud 1653) (3.39)
9. The Outlandish Knight (Roud 21; Child 4; G/D 2:225; Henry H163) (4.27)
10. Water Rattle (Roud 140; Laws P14; TYG 34) (2.29)
11. Two Sisters (Roud 8; Child 10; G/D 2:213) (3.06)
12. The Female Cabin Boy (Roud 239; Laws N13; G/D 1:181) (2.58)
13. Jepson Brown (Roud 3354; TYG 43) (1.44)
14. Walling Song (2.43)

All tracks trad. except
Track 1 poem by Ammon Wrigley of Denshaw, Saddleworth (1861-1946);
Tracks 3, 14 Keith Scowcroft;
Track 8 Harry Clifton;
Track 13 Walter Hastings (1883)