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. AKA and see "Nunrich Fair," "Wood Nunrich Fair." English, Country Dance Tune and 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.
Later printings of the tune can be found under the titles "Nunrich Fair" and "Wood Nunrich Fair." These probably derived from its publication in Glasgow musician and musician publisher James Aird's Selections of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 1 (1757) under the title "Wood Nunrich Fair." It is probable that Aird's name is a corruption of the "Wotton Underhedge Fair" title (there is no place name called 'Wood Nunrich'). See also another tune named for the town of Wotton, "Wooton Underhedge Assembly."
