The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7339 Message #4012319
Posted By: GUEST,John Fannon
07-Oct-19 - 06:08 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Spanish Ladies
Subject: RE: Origins: Spanish Ladies
I have found this thread most useful when seeking some historical background notes for 'Spanish Ladies' which we intend to sing at a forthcoming event this month. Thanks to all.
I have studied the geographical position of the landmarks mentioned in the song. 'Fairlight' has had many spellings over the years. The village is mentioned in records of 1220 as FARLEGH. Since then, many changes have occurred in the spelling, eg. in 1291 it was FARLEIGH; 1316, FEYRLEIGH; 1535, FARLEY; 1701,FAYRLIGHT; 1738, FARLEY and in 1823 the spelling is recorded as FAIRLIGHT.
Dover and South Foreland are so close together that one seems superfluous. I think that 'We sailed on by Beachy and Fairlight and Dungeness' to be more logical.