Annotation:Wotton Underhedge Fair
X:1 T:Wotton Underhedge Fair M:6/8 L:1/8 B:Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 1 (London, 1757) Z:Transcribed and edited by Fynn Titford-Mock, 2007 Z:abc’s:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G c|BGB def|gfe dcB|cAA eAA|cAA A2c| BGB def|gfe dcB|cAg faf|gdB G2:| |:c|BGB d2B|cAA e2c|BGG d2B|cAA A2c| BGG d2B|cAA e2c|BGB def|gdB G2:|| |:d|gfe dcB|gfg dcB|gfe dcB|cAA A2d| gfe dcB|gfg dcB|cAg faf|gdB G2:||
WOTTON UNDERHEDGE FAIR. English, Jig (6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC. The title refers to the Cotswold town of Wotton-Under-Edge (the Edge being a limestone enscarpment). The melody is unique to London publishers Charles and Samuel Thompson’s 1757 country dance collection. The Traveller's Guide: Or, English Itinerary, vol. 2 (1805) has this entry on Wotton Under Edge:
'WOTTON UNDER EDGE, (Gloc.), bor. and m.t. dist. from London 107 m. 2 f. is populous; pleasantly situated, and is governed by a mayor and twelve alderman. The church is large and handsome. Here is an almshouse for six men, and six women, founded by Hugh Parry, alderman of London, in 1642: also two free- schools, one for the classics, liberally endowed. The clothing-manufacture is very extensive both here and in the neighborhood. Market-day, Friday. Fair, Sept. 25. Here is a bank. Post in and out daily. Near it is Bradley House, (Thomas Nelmes, esq.). Principal inn, Star.
See also another tune named for the town, "Wooton Underhedge Assembly."