Thanks Paul, for the info and sympathy.

I have a copy of that BL MS in front of me. The only words on it are

"(2) Near Scarborough town sung by Mr W Enery at the Crown Inn"

I think RVW could have gone by train to Sheringham (Possible in 1905, not now) on Thursday January 12th as

a)Very few, possibly only 2, songs were noted on that day

b)There is a 'Crown Inn' there and has been for a while (though they don't reply to e-mails!)

c) The MS of 'Come Nancy, will you marry me' has written on it "Sung at Sheringham - Norfolk Jan 12th 1905" and "By B Jackson at the level crossing" or so it reads to me.

Do you have any ideas on that score?

I also have a copy of Roy Palmer's 'Folk Songs collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams' which does not include 'Near Scarborough Town'.
Is 'Bushes and Briars-Folk Songs collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams' a different book?

Alan