Origins: Foster's Mill

Subject: Origins: Foster's Mill
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 04:48 AM

Somebody sang this interesting song at the Portland Singtime Frolics today. Anybody have background information and additional lyrics?


FOSTER'S MILL

Come all you croppers stout and bold
Let your faith grow stronger still
For the cropper lads in the County of York
Have broken shears at Fosters' Mill

Oh around around we all do stand
And firmly swear we will
We'll break the shears and windows too
And we'll all set fire to Fosters' Mill

Oh drear and dark it is the day
When a man has to fight for his bread
Some judgement sure will clear the way
And the poor to triumph shall be led

SOURCE: https://genius.com/Traditional-fosters-mill-lyrics

Subject: ADD: Foster's Mill
From: r.padgett
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 05:40 AM

Yorkshire Garland site has Jim Potter singing this ~ he lives about a mile from me nowadays ~ I think he was present during the Luddite uprising!! or not ~ more background on the YG site ~


FOSTER'S MILL

1
Come, all you croppers stout and bold,
Let your faith grow stronger still,
For the cropper lads in the county of York
Have brocken the shears at Foster’s Mill.

2
Around and around we all will stand
And sternly swear we will,
We’ll break the shears and the windows too
And we’ll all set fire to tazzlin’ mill.

3
The wind it blew and the sparks they flew,
Which alarmed the town full soon,
And out of bed poor folk did leave,
And they run bi the light o’ the moon.

4
Around and around they all did stand
And solemnly did swear,
Neither bucket nor kit nor any such thing
Should be of any assistance there.

5
All dark and dreary is the day
When men ’ave to feight for their bread;
Some judgment sure will clear the way
And the coach of triumph shall be led.

some dialect words here too although I would not necessarily agree with pronunciation ~ events in West Yorkshire (old West Riding) area famous for weaving wool and cotton to some extent
Swan Arcade and Dave Brady (Bradley) sung this with gusto

Ray

Subject: RE: Origins: Foster's Mill
From: GUEST,Georgina Boyes
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 08:35 AM

Jim Boyes says that Swan Arcade sang a last line that's closer to the one Joe gives -

"And the poor to triumph shall be led"

Glad to hear Jim Potter's still around, Ray, please give him our best next time you see him.

---

Swan Arcade recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2C1h4nxFJM

Subject: RE: Origins: Foster's Mill
From: GUEST,watcher
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 08:52 AM

https://www.wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk/wakefield-history/essays-on-aspects-of-wakefield-history/the-luddite-risings-of-1812/

suggests the song was based on historic fact. Horbury is near Wakefield in West Yorkshire.

---

A Luddite song

Come all you croppers stout and bold
Let your faith grow stronger still
Oh the cropper lads in the County of York
They broke the shears at Foster’s Mill

The wind it blew the sparks they flew
Which alarmed the town full soon
And out of bed poor people did creep
And run by the light of the moon

Around and around they all did stand
And solemnly did swear
Neither bucket not kit nor any such thing
Should be of assistance there

Around and around we all will stand
And sternly swear we will
We’ll break the shears and the windows too
And set fire to the tazzling mill

Subject: RE: Origins: Foster's Mill
From: r.padgett
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 01:34 PM

Thanks all ~ I have a booklet The Luddites in Yorkshire ~ by James Berry 1970 mainly events around Rawfolds Mill, which is nearer to Cleckheaton ~and the rise of the Luddites an opposition to new methods using machinery throughout the area ~ hence the breaking of machines

Fewer men needed pf course ~ does not mention Fosters Mill ~ some Oath taking and strict measures against those for and against those who sided with or against the use of the new machinery

Ray

Georgina yes I have Jim Potter on fb ~ all the best to both of you

Plenty on mudcat no doubt already

Subject: RE: Origins: Foster's Mill
From: r.padgett
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 01:42 PM

Foster’s Mill stood between Horbury and Ossett and the attack took place on 9th April 1812. The crowd of hundreds armed with ‘hatchet, pike and gun’ destroyed the tazzling or gig mills and the shear-frames

The late Roy Palmer has further notes in his book on this subject

Ray

Subject: RE: Origins: Foster's Mill
From: GUEST,#
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 07:48 PM

http://www.yorkshirefolksong.net/song.cfm?songID=63

More history.

Subject: RE: Origins: Foster's Mill
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 29 Mar 21 - 11:30 AM

Sabine Baring-Gould became curate to the Rev. John Sharp, vicar of Horbury, but was based at Horbury Bridge from 1864 to 1867.

While acting as curate he met Grace Taylor, a mill girl aged fourteen, the daughter of a mill hand. His vicar, John Sharp, arranged for Grace to live for two years with relatives in York to learn middle-class manners. Baring Gould and Grace were married at St. Peter's Church, Horbury on Sunday on May 24th, 1868. Their marriage lasted until her death 48 years later, and the couple had fifteen children. My Auntie Cissy always said that we were related to Baring Gould, just as many other Devon families must be!

About 1865 he was teaching carols to a party of mill-girls in the West Riding; 'and amongst them that by Dr. Gauntlett - "Saint Joseph was a walking" - when they burst out with "Nay! We know one a great deal better nor yond!"; and, lifting up their voices, they sang' (as Georgina Boyes told me in Ossett). Baring Gould wrote Onward Christian Soldiers while at Horbury Bridge, and was amazed at its popularity. He said he had dashed the words off in no more than ten minutes as an occasional piece for a procession of school children.