In Everyman's Book of British Ballads, Roy Palmer writes; "The Watercress Girl [One day I took a ramble] - Even without a knowledge of the original street ballad, one would have to conclude that the style and sentiment of this song made it unmistakably Victorian. Sung by George Dunn (for whom, see no. 19); collected by Roy Palmer, 24. 5. 71 (Folk Music Journal, 1973, pp, 292-3)." Roy Palmer does not put forward any name for the writer.

The song notes from George Dunn: Chainmaker say; "The Watercress Girl [One day I took a ramble] - More Victorian sentimentality, with the working class girl again snapped up by (we gather) an affluent man. Water Cresses or The Watercress Girl, published in 1863, was sung (and probably written by) Harry Clifton (1832-72)." A note at the end of the booklet says; "All of the above (except some of the song notes) was written by Roy Palmer." While the writer of the song notes does appear to think Water Cresses and The Watercress Girl the same song, it's not clear that the writer is Roy Palmer.