Writings of "Jinky" Wells

Writings of "Jinky" WellsAuthor(s): William WellsSource: Folk Music Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1970), pp. 3-11Published by: English Folk Dance + Song SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4521847 .

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Writings of "Jinky" Wells

THE FOLLOWING LETTERS and other writings by William Wells of Bampton, Oxfordshire, are presented as a supplement to the article "William Wells 1868-1953" (JEFDSS 8, 1-15 (1956); available also as Journal Reprint No. 8).

The letters date from 1922 and the Editorial Board is indebted to Lady Taylor and Mr D. N. Kennedy, for permission to reproduce them here. The letter dated 8th March 1922 was sent in the first place to "The Hon. Tres., Theodore Chaundy, M.A., Christ Church, Oxford". The originals of this letter and the four addressed to "Miss Taylor" are at present in the charge of the Society's S.W. Area Library.

The piece "On Morris Dancing" and the list of Bampton Morris Dances (which also appears in facsimile as frontispiece) are undated and belong to the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House. EDITOR

Letter to Mr D. N. Kennedy

Mr Kennedy writes: This was written in answer to one from me asking if he had any

old relics of the Bampton Morris and describing how we had visited his cottage and found him from home. The "relicks" were all eventually gathered together and the "Whittle" repaired to make it play again.

It is in Helen Kennedy's possession: the other relics are part of the museum collection at Cecil Sharp House.

We visited Bampton again that year (1922) at Whitsun (with Cecil Sharp, I think).

Feby 3rd 1922 Lavender Square

Bampton Oxon RSO Dear Mr Kenedy,

At last I am finding time to write a line to you I was sorry to have been out the day you and the Ladies called but of course every fine day I have to be out to get a living I have been doing a bit of Hawking and Market Gardening ever since I had my

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eyesight bad for 35 years as I was then blind for two years. Dear Sir I have only got about 5 old relicks left of the Old Morris and they are nearly valueless but I have just kept them for Old Relicks sake, one of the Oldest Collectin Boxes the Old Wittle an Old hand worked Fools Dress an Old Original set of Bells and an Old Violin but as to the value its not much I had the Old Wittle from an Old Lady of 84 from Alvescott 7 years ago her Grandfather played a century or more back as it is its useless but I gave her 5 shillings for it and if its likely to be of any use to you you are welcome to have it as up in London there are clever workman who may be able to new head and tongue it so let me know and if nesecary I will send it. I have tried very hard to keep the Old Custom going as I have been left to it now for twenty years as all my Uncles and relations have died out I started with them as Fool in 86 my Grandfather was just then dead my Oldest Uncle took is place since his Death my Oldest Son has took is place so we go on I have heard my Grandfather say in the Old days they found a difficulty in getting a piper or Fiddler theres plenty can play but its the Old tune the Old time thats needed otherwise they would be lost but today the inner interest is gone the young ones they want something for nothing in the Old days they would dance from 8 till 8 at night for about 2 shillings each but I shall still try and keep it together although I feel Fed up with it some- times we hope to meet some of you and Mr. Sharp or his people if all goes well this next Wit Monday and shall be very pleased to see any Old Friends.

I remain Dear Sir your Truly William Wells

Letters to Miss M. V. Taylor and others

February 24th, 1922. Lavender Square,

Bampton, Oxon. R.S.O. Dear Miss Taylor & Friends,

I shall be only too pleased to do or help you in any way possible as I for one very much appreciate your former kindness, pleased to get your letter and as regards the Clowns Dress you speak of, our present Fool lives at Swindon as he shifted there from Bampton, three years ago, but I can't see it would hardly be worth the bother you writing to him and even then he might not be

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willing to send his clothes but I will send his address to you if you think it necessary I can give you the outlines and both are simple and very easy to fill in as regards the Clowns Dress and Morris Bells as you will see by Photo I am sending. The Dress is simply a Blouse made loose like a Lady's loose jumper with elastick round the bottom to fit tight to the waist, a frill round the neck and frill round the two whrists say with a little elastick, a full Back and fasten in Front with say three buttons, the trousers are made as any ordinary pair only loose roomy, its just a simple periots Dress and Clown's hat but as you will see the old Fool's Dress of the Olden Days were very different as my Old Grandmother made mine when I started with the Morris here in 86 was handworked and they put a lot of work into things in those days. I am sending these things for you to judge for yourselves a few of my relicks and memories, also photos and my Book I started to write I may be spared perhaps to finish it, I hope so, I left off in 1914 August Bank-holiday we all went to Reading Regatta war Broke out and I have had worry and loss since then so have had to work very hard for a living, my two sons went in the Army my little Business had to go but I am thankfull to say I am gradually picking up, if I can be of any use I shall be proud to do so as serve you.

I am sending the set of Bells promised the young Gentleman I forget his name and I don't think I had his Address but please tell him this set is made by myself from the old Original pattern they would cost today about lOs. a set to make fifteen years ago I could have made them for 5s. but I have not the time now to make them and I should find it very difficult to procure the Bells and things to make them but in a town like Oxford there is plenty of Toy Shops you could get the Bells. Just three sizes in Bells to make different tones, to begin you want to make the frame just a few left off Ladies Leather waist Belts well tacked then wipcord the Bells on in position, then fill in with coloured bits of Dress Material as odds and ends. Clowns Dress and Bells are both very simple to make, I am sending this parcel off this morning please keep it as long as you wish and let me have back what you don't keep the Clown and fools Dress you can keep the Bells you can keep as any other little thing you like you can send me what you like for anything you keep.

Yours very truly WILLIAM WELLS.

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February 28th, 1922 Lavender Square,

Bampton, Oxon. R.S.O. Dear Miss Taylor & Friends,

I received your letter yesterday and was pleased you liked what I had sent and glad you sent back the odds and ends, I just keep a few bits of interest, but I may tell you there is a lot gone of still more interest for there is many things I would like to have back thats gone beyond recall, things that might but has not been taken care of, my late old Uncle Harry Radband was in and took a part first has Dancer then has sword and Money Box Carrier for 52 years. I started as fool in 86 so you see I have been taking a part for 35 or 6 years, our Old Fool was not a Bampton bred man, he had originated from out of Berkshire Farringdon way he came here as a sweep about 52 years ago he was found buried in the drift of snow in 81, my Uncle Alfred Taylor everyone called him Jarby, a very little man but wonderful agile and witty, was fool for 4 or 5 years between that date and when I joined in 86 so you will see by the old coat a bigger man could not wear it but it would make a good pattern to make a larger one from, if you cant make the man for the coat you must make coat for the man, I was pleased to hear you liked the Bells they are very simply made but of course, there is a lot of work even in them.

I shall be very pleased for you to keep them and the coat for I feel I would like it to be in good hands where it can be taken care of and where better than in my native county Town. My people I may say are one of the oldest Established Residential names in Bampton for centuries back and they have helped to keep up the Morris for a great many years. 40 years ago three of my uncles where dancing out of the six and my Grand Father, George Wells was then carrying the Sword Box and Cake. I have still that old money box here with me as they had one made larger about that time.

Anything that I can do to help you or assist in any way I should be only too pleased to do so as regards the things I sent you, you are at liberty to keep as long as you like and if the Bells and Coat is of any use to you and you think I am justified in asking, one pound for the two, so well and good I shall be perfectly satisfied and believe me to Remain

Yours Very Truly, BILLY WELLS.

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March 8th, 1922. Lavender Square,

Bampton, Oxon. R.S.O.

To the Ladies & Gentlemen of the Folk Dance Society, From Wm. Wells:

I have received this morning your kind and generous letter and the £1 sent for The Old Fool's Coat, I feel very grateful for your kindness and shall feel it my duty in future if it lays in my power to do anything to aid or help you in any way and I trust anything I have sent may prove of use to you and Society. I think past Generations have not made the most or best of Old now forgotten relicks and Customs, 45 years ago as a little lad I could have learnt a lot had I thought then but the opportunity is now gone. I had an Old Blind Uncle, a wonderful man of memory he had all the very old Ancient songs and all the old original Morris Dances, it was all pipe and Dub then and was most wonderful what they produced from that three holed Instrument, but there is so many wonderous things gone beyond recall and to my mind most of the present Generation are very slow and slack in grasping the real thing, they think as I find anything will do so as you may a show and perhaps I have been too easy with them, I have tried hard to learn and impress on them but it seems heartless they want something for nothing in these days but I never forget one particular song of my old Uncles, "The sweetest money ever won was earnt by the sweat of the brow".

I wrote a few lines to Mr. Constable, New College, thanking him for the 10s. he so kindly sent me for the set of Bells and I hope they will serve his purpose well. Kindly Remember me to any of your kind enquiring Friends and Believe me to Remain, Yours Very Truly,

BILLY WELLS.

March 28th, 1922. Lavender Square,

Bampton Oxon. Dear Miss Taylor, ' I got your letter yesterday and went to three Butchers but

could not get a large Bladder, you see only by looking far enough



ahead can you always get these things and our Fool like a good many more in these days, only looks at the time present, he just comes here as it were for Whit Monday, what he wants he gets, uses and then throws aside and thinks no more till he wants again, if a Butcher is killing a large pig he keeps the Bladder, blows wind into it by means of a Wheat Straw or piece of a clay pipe small end, or sees a Dealer in skins, Calves hydes and pro- cures a good long tail keeps it for a twelve month to dry then it gets hard and stiff, like a stick. A fresh green tail would be no good, the reason why the Old Original Custom of the Calves tail was dispensed with was simply the trouble of getting one drying and keeping the Bladder and stick business was easy to get and no expense as the Fool generally begs a bladder, times and people have changed they want no trouble no expense, if you could meet with a Butcher Slaughterman, ask him when he's killing, say a large Fat Hog to keep his bladder, he would do so and Blow it up ready for you that dries easy in a few days, then bore a hole in the end of a stick about half an inch from the end stick about 2 feet long a piece of thong in this way.

Bladder & Stick Calves Tail.

It would be no good to write to our present Fool but I should very much like for you to get what you want and if you had let me know only say a month ago, I could have got it but these things are seldom kept and difficult to get always at a moments notice,

Yours very truly,

WM. WELLS

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March 31st 1922. Lavender Square,

Bampton, Oxon. R.S.O. Dear Miss Taylor,

I received your letter yesterday morning and went into Witney yesterday. I saw a skin hyde Dealer I knew and he had just got two Calves skins brought in, he said "Yes, Mr. Wells, you can have either one you like for a Bob". I have seen a Pig Butcher I know and he is getting me a bladder from a large Hog so without doubt, in a few days I can fix you up and in all it will cost about two shillings, so the expense will not be great, it will be a good bit of trouble but that is nothing, I make no trouble over anything I am able to do.

The Calves tail I have to bone and dry and affix a short piece for handle, the Bladder has to be Blown up tight to dry and harden then affix handle with piece of leather thong, and if you write again please send a Label to tie on parcel, and the Bampton Carrier to Oxford will bring it in just ready for use as it can't be sent through the post very well and I hope it will suit you and give every satisfaction.

I remain, Yours very Truly,

WM. WELLS.

ON MORRIS DANCING

We have heard and read a good Deal about the Ancient Morris Dancers of Merry England, but in my opinion there is none Older than Oxfordshire allthough the Midland Counties in years gone bye nearly all villages had their sets of Dancers but late years it has nearly all died out, but there is still several places where it has been revived after having been dropped for several years, but I think I may say that Bampton in the Bush is the only place left where it has been regularly kept up and never dropped and none at the present is as good and as strong and as much appreciated as ever-there is men now in it that as been dancing and taking a part for more than fifty years and they as lads can remember there Great Granfathers say that Bamtonians where the Oldest Morris Dancers, but formerly the Dance was allways

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played with the wit and Dub a wooden whistle & a small Drum but late years the musican as allways performed on the Violin- there is about thirty very Old tunes still used wich comprises of six handed dancies pipe Dancies and Jigs besides several special Fools or the Clowns Dancies-some of the Old Songs are still known and sang amongst the Townspeople which are very sweet and pretty music such as the Shepherds Hay the Maid of the Mill the Nutting Girl the Green Bushes the Flowers of Edinburgh the Rose tree, Constant Billy boy, Trunkles the Bride in Camp Old Tom of Oxford, Green Garters lumps of Plum Pudding, the Iland Mary, Tommy Make Room for your Uncle Bobbing Around, The Old Myrtle tree, Princess Royal, Jogging to the Fair and a score of others that are still used and well known amongst the present Generation of Dancers wich the Inhabitants ar very proud off, but the Bampton Dancers has allways been quite different from any others thats know[n] allways using pocket handkerchiefs instead of sticks-the Dress with Ribbons Artificall Flowers and Bells is very pretty with the Old Squire as sword Bearer and Tom Fool or Clown-there being only one special Day in the year Wit Monday General Club Day being used -there is still some Old Relics left wich are prised by the Oldest Dancers-I think I may say that Bampton is the Oldest and the only place where it as been annually kept up without a brake for upwards of four hundred years.

A Fiddler & Dancer William Wells

Weald Bampton Oxon RSO

[In transcribing the above I have retained Wells's spelling, inserting only an occasional dash to mark the beginning of a new sentence.-Ed.]

THE BAMPTON MORRIS DANCES

The Hiland Mary The Bride in Camp Jonney so long at the Fair Lumps of Plum Pudding

The Quaker The Nutting Girl Old Tom of Oxford

all side step

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Glory Shears The Maid of the Mill Clap Dances

The Shepherds Hey Bambury Bill The Rose Tree

Through Dances

Bobbing Around Constant Billy boy Jumping half Through Dances

The Flowers of Edingburgh, Knee Dance

Princess Royal Jogging to the Fair Jig Dances

The Webley Jig Broom Stick Pipe Dance

Now mind you this let it be said, Our Lads all from one village born and bred; Trained and tried they must be, Picked from the best you see, With legs as straight as a poplar tree They clap all together or bend the knee.

[Green Garters and The Forester do not appear in this list. Cf. Journal Reprint No. 8, p. 14.-Ed.]

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Documents

Writings of "Jinky" Wells