A Song for Beds, Herts and Bucks
Watford Folk Club's songwriting competion entries of 2012
BackChartists Ballot of 1846
By Linda Birmingham and David Silver
Way to GoThe plans for the HS2 High speed railway 2012 |
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The Banks of the BeaneThe drying up of the River Beane over the last 50 years |
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The Great Ouse and the ColneThe story of the White family over 3 generations |
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The Hatter GirlsThe Luton Hatting Industry 1610-1965 |
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The Hertfordshire GuardsThe third Battle of Ypres, (Passchendaele) July 1917 |
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Chartists Ballot 1846The Chartists Ballot of 1846 |
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James("Robert")SnooksThe last Highwayman hanged in England 1761-1802 |
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Begone! The Witch of WalkernThe trial of Jane Wenham 1712 |
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The Headless HorsemanThe headless horseman of Pirton |
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Destined to lie with the KingThe story of William Dormer of Wing |
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St AlbanSt Alban - Martyred 22 June 209, c.251 or 304 ? |
Old Time TimTo Tim Brooks' Home Page |
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Words copyright © 2012 Linda Birmingham
Melody copyright © 2012 David Silver
About this Song
From Wikipedia Article
Heronsgate (or formerly Herringsgate) is a settlement on the outskirts of Chorleywood, Hertfordshire founded by Feargus O'Connor and the Chartist Cooperative Land Company (later the National Land Company) as O'Connorsville or O'Connorville in 1846. The Chartist Cooperative Land Society was launched by the National Charter Association in 1845 with the aim of resettling industrial workers from the cities on smallholdings, making them independent of factory employers and potentially qualifying them for the vote.
Chartists were invited to subscribe regular amounts towards an eventual £2.50 ( £2/10s) share in the venture. Soon the money began to flood in, pennies and shillings at a time, and was deposited in an account held by Feargus O'Connor in the London Joint Stock Bank.
The land was bought on 14 March 1846, the plots allocated by ballot on 20 April 1846 (Easter Monday) and settled on 1 May 1847.
In addition to the 35 plots of land covering 103 acres (0.42 km2), a beer house was also provided, now the Land of Liberty, Peace, and Plenty public house.
About the artists
Linda has been interested in folk music since childhood. She became involved in Morris dancing during the great revival in the 1970's and is an Appalachian dancer and a ceilidh caller.
She gains a lot of her musical inspiration from the people, places and wildlife around the beautiful Rickmansworth Aquadrome nature reserve and cites Ralph McTell as one of her great musical influences.
She has only recently begun performing and writing her own songs.
In her professional life Linda teaches The Alexander Technique and offers Bowen Therapy and Voice-work and Sound Healing.
Most of Dave's musical life has revolved around the classical world. He came to Folk around six years ago when he bought an accordion on a whim and was subsequently invited to play in a Morris dancing band. Four years ago he began to write music. Not surprisingly his style reflects those classical and folk influences and his work is often a crossover between the two. Now that he has retired from a professional life in IT he is dedicating all his spare time to writing and performing, and also teaches the accordion to beginners.