I've a bit more time now to add some info.

The Roud index has one entry for it: Howden Fair No.1086, from O'Shaughnessey, Yellowbelly Ballads 1 pp.45-46, 80-81. (This is a collection of Lincolnshire songs). It's a reprint of Notes & Queries 7S 5 (1888) p.345 (one of the two) with the tune added (As far as I can tell - from a reference in sources of Ozark tunes - O'Shaughnessey printed the Nancy Dawson tune).

The 1911 reference to the song (which I presume is theleveller's original can be seen here- Notes and Queries, S11-IV, Issue 100:

HOWDEN FAIR (11 S iv 325) - MR EDWARD PEACOCK, who so frequently contributes dainties to the banquets of 'N&Q' has already served up this song (7 S v. 345). There are slight differences in the versions, due, no doubt, to tricks of memory on the part of the narrators. I do not know who wrote the song, which suggests by means of words the fuss and clatter of a country horse-fair almost as well as Rosa Bonheur did with her pigments. ST. SWITHIN. (W.C.B. also thanked for reply)


Bob Bray and John Scaife sang it on a 1997 recording: The Devil's Nine Questions.

Mick