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Widdecombe/Widdicombe Fair / Tom Pearce / Johnny Greyman and His Grey Mare

[ Roud 137 / Song Subject MAS1017 ; Master title: Widdecombe Fair ; Ballad Index K308 ; GlosTrad Roud 137 ; MusTrad DB28 ; Folkinfo 1 ; DT TAMPRCE , WIDDECOM ; Mudcat 104692 ; trad.]

Sabine Baring-Gould: Songs of the West Ralph Dunstan: The Cornish Songbook Fred Hamer: Garners Gay Maud Karpeles: Cecil Sharp’s Collection of English Folk Songs Maud Karpeles: The Crystal Spring James Reeves: The Everlasting Circle Ken Stubbs: The Life of a Man

Bill Westaway of Belstone, Devon sang Widdecombe Fair, collected by Jean Ritchie and George Pickow, on the 1959 Folkways album Field Trip—England. Jean Ritchie noted:

Widdecombe Fair was collected by the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould in Devonshire early in this century. His subsequent revision of it soon became well-known and loved all through Britain and the USA. My older sisters learned it years ago at the Pine Mountain Settlement School, Pine Mountain, Kentucky, and so our family has sung it as far back as I can remember. Therefore, I was delighted when Peter Kennedy took us to see Bill Westaway, a grand old gardener and the son of the original singer who gave the song to Baring-Gould. Here we give you the opportunity to hear the song as it was before the collector changed it, and perhaps to decide as we did, that we liked Mr. Westaway’s original every bit as much as Mr. Baring-Gould’s revision.

Both Bill Westaway, recorded by Peter Kennedy and Alan Lomax, and George ‘Pop’ Maynard of Copthorne, Sussex, recorded by Peter Kennedy, sang Tom Pearce (Widecombe Fair) in a composite version on the anthology Animal Songs / Songs of Animals and Other Marvels (The Folk Songs of Britain Volume 10; Caedmon 1961; Topic 1970). The album’s booklet noted:

This is the Devonshire version, Widdecombe Fair, the one which has become widely known, but many other variants exist. Cecil Sharp collected Lansdown Fair with an “O dingle on dingle on Lea” chorus. In addition he noted Midsummer Fair, and Portsdown Fair in Somerset. We have heard a version, Stow Fair from a Mrs. Pearce of Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire (4 miles from Stow-on-the-Wold).

Baring Gould, who published the Devonshire version in Songs of the West (Methuen 1895), said “the original Uncle Tom Cobleigh lived at Spreyton in a house near Yeoford Junction. His will was signed 20 January 1787 and proved 14 March 1794. The names in the chorus all belonged to Sticklepath.” These two places are on Dartmoor within only a few miles of where Bill Westaway recorded his version. In fact Bill told us how Baring-Gould took down his father’s words and then put a tune to it!

“Mr. Baring Gould was a parson down Lew Trenchard on the borders of Cornwall and he got Widdecombe Fair from my father in Mr. J.D. Prickman’s, the Solicitor at Okehampton. He and my father were wonderful great friends and Mr. Prickman send up his coachman to father that he was to come in to Okehampton as he wanted to see him very particular … The day after, father went in. He had a good time, they fed him well and paid him very well and he was given a drop or two, you know, and got a bit merry and on to get father singing. Well that’s what Baring Gould wanted, you see, for father to sing Widdecombe Fair while he took it in, in shorthand writing or in notes, you know—And all he done was put a new tune to it.

Bill was 87 when he made this recording outside his house in Belstone. He said of himself that he dad been “blacksmith, stone-breaker, hedge-cutter, everything bar a person!”. He says he speaks three languages, “rough, smooth and indifferent” and had two types of song to suit every kind of company. He could also dress rough or smooth but preferred to dress rough as he walked everywhere in all sorts o weather. His comments show that he regards B.G.’s slicked-up, notated version of his family’s song as so wrongly put as to be a completely new tune.

George Maynard, born at Smallfield, Surrey in 1872, lived most of his life around Copthorne until his death in 1962. ‘Pop’ learned most of his songs from members of his own family who were all well-known and locally respected singers.

A full description of “The Life and Songs of George Maynard” can be found in The Journal of the EFDSS Vol. IX. No. 4. p. 180 (1963).

Another version of George Maynard singing this song as Lansdown Fair at The Cherry Tree, Copthorne on 16 December 1959 to Brian Matthews was included in 2000 on his Musical Traditions anthology Down the Cherry Tree and a year later on the Musical Traditions anthology Just Another Saturday Night. Yet another version of Pop Maynard singing Landsdowne Fair to Ken Stubbs in 1959 was printed in 1970 in Stubbs’ E.F.D.S. book of English folk songs from the Home Counties, The Life of a Man.

Cyril Tawney, Lewis Johns and John Steele sang Widdecombe Fair at a concert presented by the English Folk, Dance and Song Society at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 4 June 1965; this recording was published in the same year on the concert EP The Folksound of Britain: Northumbria / West Country. Cyril Tawney recorded this song again as Johnny Greyman and His Grey Mare in 1970 on his Argo LP Cyril Tawney Sings Children’s Songs From Devon and Cornwall. He noted:

I found this among the Baring-Gould manuscripts. No source is indicated but presumably it is from either Devon or Cornwall. I have also recorded another version from Molly Spooner of Yelverton, Devon. An interesting poser for folklorists: Is this merely a simplified nursery version of the well-known Widdicombe Fair or an older, more primitive form of the song?

LaRena Clark sang The Old County Fair to Edith Fowke in Toronto in 1965. It was published in 1969 on her Topic album of folksongs from Ontario, A Canadian Garland.

Dave Williams sang Widecombe Fair in a concert at Chichester College, Sussex, 1966. This recording was included in 2003 on his posthumous Forest Tracks anthology You’re On Nipper!. Paul Marsh noted:

This well known song, Widecombe Fair, is given the Balladeers treatment here and although the song is treated with a certain dignity the chorus has a few additional Balladeers touches.

Fred Hamer printed a version of William Bartle of Bedfordshire singing Bedford Fair in his 1967 E.F.D.S. book Garners Gay.

Jon Raven sang Midsummer Fair in 1968 on the Broadside album The Halliard : Jon Raven.

Brian Golbey sang Widdicombe Fair in 1983 on Tim Hart and Friends’ album Drunken Sailor and Other Kids Songs. This track is one of the two not reissued on the compilation CD Favourite Nursery Rhymes and Other Children’s Songs.

Bob Cann sang Widecombe Fair on his and his grandson Mark Bazeley’s 1988 Veteran Tapes cassette Five Generations. This track was also included in 2004 on the Veteran anthology CD of folk songs sung in the West Country, Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All. John Howson noted:

The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould published Widecombe Fair in Songs of the West (1895) stating that the original Tom Cobleigh lived in Spreyton in a house near Yeoford Junction and suggesting that the names in the chorus all belonged to Sticklepath. These two villages on the edge of Dartmoor are only a few miles from where Bob Cann was brought up and the version he sings here came from his grandfather. The song was included in many song collections including Ballads Ancient and Modern by Robert MacIntyre (1929) and was sometimes adapted to other locations. Sussex singer George (Pop) Maynard sang a version which he called Lansdowne Fair which listed different participants who were led by Uncle Tom Cockeral.

Dave Webber sang Widdecombe Fair in 1993 on his and Anni Fentiman’s album Together Solo. They noted:

There are two main versions of this Devonshire song. This one is favoured by traditional Devonshire singers and fierce discussion about which is the real version is ongoing. However, this particular version does mention eight names in the chorus where the other version mentions only seven. The stone cairn in the middle of the village of Widdecombe in the moor in Devon displays a portrait of this epic ride with eight people displayed with the horse. It is left to you to decide for yourselves what you think.

Tom and Barbara Brown sang Widdecombe Fair as one of the new tracks on their 2007 WildCoose compilation CD West Country Night Out. They noted:

This is the version that many people learnt in school, although there are other versions—even in the West Country. Bob Cann (see Dartmoor Song [on the same album]) had his grandfather’s version (with an extra man—making eight), and another version (Widdlecombe Fair) comes from Hampshire. If you go to Widecombe-in-the-Moor, and look at the plaque that commemorates the song, you’ll find eight men on the mare!

Bill Murray sang Tom Pearce (Widecombe Fair) in 2008 on his Wren Music CD Down ’pon Ole Dartymoor. He noted:

Widecombe Fair is undoubtedly the most famous of all of the Dartmoor songs—this version is not so well known. It comes from the area to the north of Dartmoor where Tom Pearce and the nine travellers lived. Sabine Baring-Gould collected versions from several singers, and in 1950 Peter Kennedy recorded Bill Westaway singing it at Belstone. The names and the number of travellers vary from one version to another.

The choir Freshly Ground sang Widecombe Fair in 2013 on their WildGoose CD The Good Red Earth. They noted:

A musical mug from Issy [Emeney]’s childhood was the inspiration for this arrangement of one of Englands best known songs! “We spent part of every summer holiday in the house in Devon built by my great grandfather. Over the fireplace stood a musical tankard that played the tune of Widecombe Fair. We all loved the tankard, even though I cried for the old horse, and had nightmares about the skirling and groans. And there was something faintly chilling about that tinkling tune…”

Jim Causley sang both Old Cobley and Old Widecombe Fair on his 2021 album Devonshire Roses, and returned to Widdecombe Vair on his 2023 CD Songs of Dartmoor and on his and Miranda Sykes’ 2024 CD Baring-Gould Centenary 2024. He noted:

Traditional. Collected in Feniton by George Pulman in 1867, 22 years before Baring-Gould published his now infamous Widecombe Fair. One of many variants collected around Devon.

and

Traditional. Baring-Gould Collection. Baring-Gould collected and collated many versions of this song and was the first to give it the title of Wideeombe Fair. Previously it has been known by many different names; Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce’s Grey Mare, Uncle Tom Cobley, Barnstaple Fair, Tavistock Fair, Midsummer Fair etc etc … The actual fair in Widecombe did not begin until 1850 yet the first published reference to the song Old Cobley was in 1761 (Exeter).

Lyrics

Bill Westaway sings Widdecombe Fair

Tom Pierce, Tom Pierce, lend me thy gray mare,
Ri-fol-lol-the-dol-diddle-i-doe;
That I may ride up to Widdecombe Fair

Chorus (after each verse):
With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins,
Hugh Davy, Philly Whitpot, George Pausley,
Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and all,
Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all.

O when shall I see my gray mare home again?
By Friday night or Saturday morn

O Friday was past and Saturday was come,
Tom Pierce’s old mare he was not a-came home

Tom Pierce, he went up on a high hill,
He saw his old mare down making his will

So how did you know it was your old mare?
Her one foot was shoed and the other three bare

The wind whistles hard on the moor of a night,
Tom Pierce’s old mare, he appeared ghastly white

Then all the night long we heard shirklins and groans,
Tom Pierce’s old mare, he was rattling his bones.

Tom Pierce’s old mare, he was took sick and died,
Tom Pierce, he sat down on the stones and he cried

So this is the end of my shocking affair,
I’ve give you the career of Tom Pierce’s old mare

With Phil Lewer, Jan Brewer, Harry Hawkins,
Hugh Davy, Philly Whitpot, George Pausley,
Dick Wilson, Tom Cobbley and all,
Here is Uncle Tom Cobbley and all,
Uncle Tom Cobbley and all,
Uncle Tom Cobbley and all.

George ‘Pop’ Maynard sings Lansdown Fair

Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your old mare,
Hey along, ding along, ding,
Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your old mare,
Hey along, ding along, ding,
So that I may ride over to Lansdowne Fair.

Chorus (after each verse):
With Bill Brewer, Jack Stewer, Harry Hawkins, Bill Jo-sie,
Harry Hollops, Tom Brown, Joe Chapman, Ben Backwell
And our Uncle Tom Cockerel and all
And our Uncle Tom Cockerel and all.

Oh when will my mare return home again?
Oh, at Friday noon, or Saturday soon.

Now Friday’s gone and Saturday’s come
And my old mare she’s not returned home.

So I took a ride over to Lansdowne Fair
There I saw my old mare a-making her will.

So I threw the halter right over her head
And my old mare she dropped down dead.

And my old mare she dropped down dead.

Brian Golbey sings Widdicombe Fair

Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare,
All along, down along, out along lee.
For I want for to go to Widdicombe Fair.

Chorus (after each verse):
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer,
Peter Gurney, Peter Davey,
Dan’l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all.

And when shall I see my old grey mare again?
By Friday night or Saturday noon.

Then Friday came and Saturday noon,
Tom Pearce’s old grey mare had not trotted home.

Tom Pearce he went up to the top of the hill,
He found his old grey mare a-making her will.

Tom Pearce’s old grey mare she took sick and died,
Tom Pearce he sat down on her tombstone and he cried.

But this isn’t the end o’ this shocking affair,
Nor, though they be dead, of the horrid career.

When the wind whistles shrill in the dead of the night,
Tom Pearce’s old mare do appear ghastly white.

And all the night long you’ll rattlings and groans,
It’s Tom Pearce’s old grey mare, she’s rattling her bones.

Bob Cann sings Widecombe Fair

Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare,
Right-fal-and-o-jingle-i-o,
For I want to go to Widecombe Fair.

Chorus (after each verse):
With Bill Hewer, Jan Brewer,
Harry Hawkin, Joe Davey,
Philly Wigpot, George Parsley,
Dick Wilson, Tom Cobleigh and all.
’Ere is Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all.

Oh when will I see my old mare again,
Be Friday noon or Saturday soon.

Then Friday came and Saturday soon,
Tom Pearce’s old mare he hadn’t trotted home.

So Tom Pearce he went to the top of the hill,
He saw his old mare there a-making her will.

Tom Pearce’s old mare fell sick and her died,
Tom Pearce sat down on a stone and he cried.

When the wind whistles cold on the moors of a night,
Tom Pearce’s old mare appears ghastly white.

And all the night long you hear shirkings and groans,
Tom Pearces’s old mare is a-rattling her bones.

Now that was the end of that shocking affair.
And that was the end of poor Tom’s old grey mare.