Lyr Add: Will and Henry Smallthwaite (Higginbottom

20 Nov 00 - 10:34 AM (#343942)
Subject: Kirby Lonsdale
From: Tomsk

I'm looking for the lyrics to an English folk song about robbers / highway men in Kirby Lonsdale... I can aonly remember a few lines.

It starts something like

"..In the Vale of Kirby Lonsdale, in the North of England Lived the Brothers Smallplate (?) Farmers of the land.."

blah blah

"...For clippin' and for coinin' and for robbing all the Gentry, The Smallplate brothers famous hang high from the gallows tree."

Does this ring any bells for anyone? Do you have the lyrics?

Thanks in advance..

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20 Nov 00 - 10:11 PM (#344260)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kirby Lonsdale
From: Jim Dixon

Amazing coincidence! I spent a week in the town of Kirkby Lonsdale (note the correct spelling - the second K is silent) in the summer of 1997. Lovely little town. I wasn't aware there was a song about it. I am eagerly awaiting the answer to this question.

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22 Nov 00 - 10:08 AM (#345095)
Subject: Lyr Add: WILL AND HENRY SMALLTHWAITE (Higginbottom
From: Tomsk

I have managed to obtain the lyrics (Thanks to Mr Peter Hawkins), should anybody require them:

WILL AND HENRY SMALLTHWAITE
(Geoff Higginbottom)

In the vale of Kirkby Lonsdale in the north of England
Lived the brothers Smallthwaite, farmers of the land.
By day they herded cattle and grew their corn and tatties.
By night their moves were guided by the devil's hand.

CHORUS
For clipping and for coining and for robbing o' the gentry,
The Smallthwaite brothers they must hang high on the gallows tree.

Now Will and Henry Smallthwaite, by night they robbed the gentry,
Shared out all their spoils with the poor folks of the land.
The sheriff of the county, he swore that he would catch them,
So he organised a posse to track the brothers down.
CHORUS

Now the sheriff's men lay waiting outside the local manor,
And the sheriff caught them robbing there and sent them off for trial.
On a charge of stealing riches from all the local gentry,
He locked them up and sent them to the courtroom in Carlisle.
CHORUS

Now the jury at the trial they were all friends of the Smallthwaites.
To find them both not guilty did suit them very well.
So Henry and young Will, they walked their way to freedom
To carry on their robbing in the valley of Lonsdale.
CHORUS

But greed became their downfall, clipping silver from the coinage,
An act of treason punished by a rope hung from a tree.
The sheriff caught them coining. The assize at Preston tried them,
With no friends in the jury box to help to set them free.
CHORUS

Now the verdict it was guilty and the judge put on his black cap,
And then he gave his sentence for all the court to hear.
To die by hangman's rope was the fate of Will and Henry,
So the gentry for their riches, they need no longer fear.
CHORUS (Twice)

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14 Feb 13 - 03:07 PM (#3479672)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kirby Lonsdale
From: Joe Offer

I received an inquiry today about this song and the Smallthwaite family. Anybody know more about the story, or how to contact songwriter Geoff Higginbottom?

-Joe-

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14 Feb 13 - 05:03 PM (#3479729)
Subject: RE: ADD: Will and Henry Smallthwaite/Kirby Lonsdale
From: Dave Sutherland

Keith Kendrick (Derby Ram) should be able to help you.

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16 Feb 13 - 05:28 AM (#3480280)
Subject: RE: ADD: Will and Henry Smallthwaite/Kirby Lonsdale
From: GUEST,Linda Smallthwaite

Hi, I'm the person Joe has said has queried information about the song.

I'm researching my family tree, I am a Smallthwaite and wanted to find out any information anyone has about it...

Thanks Dave for the information above about Keith - how do I contact him (or will he just see this post)

Thanks L

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