The Parson & the Songmen

The Parson & the Songmen

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The Parson & the Songmen episodes

  • S4 10 Reap What You Sow

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    In this decidedly autumnal episode we revisit a podcast from the first series of The Parson and the Songmen and the early days of the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould's song collecting. 

    During the autumn of 1888, with a deal of hard work, Sabine, along with two fellow Reverends collected nearly one hundred songs from singers local to him in Devon, many of which were 'taken down' in his own home, Lewtrenchard Manor.

    Mike very recently gave a concert at the manor house in which he sang a number of these songs, so it is amazing to think they have come home again. More news about this concert in this podcast.

    And finally, in this Halloween season, we have thrown in a Devon ghost story and song collected by the Reverend Gentleman for good measure as well!

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    24 min
  • S4 9 Shipwrecked!

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    This 70th(!) episode of The Parson and the Songmen would not be possible without Mr Edward Blight, born just before the First World War and, whose lifelong obsession was collecting and preserving information about shipwrecks along the North Cornwall coastline around Bude.

    The archive was donated to The Castle Bude and to talk us through it, and provide us with a few more salty sea yarns, Mike caught up with Janine King, Heritage Curator at The Castle Bude, who we met earlier in this fourth series.

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    30 min
  • S4 8 "That Just Floors Me Every Time!"

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    "That just floors me every time" was a quote from BBC Radio 3 presenter Verity Sharp, talking about a track by Ben Walker, guitarist extraordinaire, and Mike's guest on this latest podcast from The Parson and the Songmen series.

    That's probably all that needs to be said about this episode, except check out Ben at benwalkermusic.com and, if you ever meet him, please don't mention the classical guitar....

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    37 min
  • S4 7 For The Want Of A Good Woman

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    In this latest episode of The Parson and the Songmen we find The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould at something of a loss. 

    Some research into the Reverend Gentleman carried out by Mike earlier in the year led to the discovery of an article that Sabine wrote in 1894 for a lady's publication. The article explained that he was finding it difficult to obtain songs sung by women for his collection, and made an appeal for help to achieve this.

    Would the article be successful? Well, find out now in this latest podcast.

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    23 min
  • S4 6 'An Intriguing Creation'

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    Hello and welcome to the 67th (yes, you read correctly...) episode of The Parson and The Songmen!

    In this episode we thought it was high time that we visited the home of Sabine Baring-Gould - Lewtrenchard Manor - on the western edge of Dartmoor in Devon.

    These days, Lewtrenchard Manor has a life as a luxury hotel, but it's history stretches back some 900 years. Baring-Gould inherited the estate in 1872 and began extensive reconstruction and restoration in 1876.

    True to the one-of-a-kind type of person that he was, Sabine transformed the house into a highly individual dwelling. Described by famed architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as 'an intriguing creation', the Reverend Gentleman most certainly left his mark on the building as we find out now from Mike, in the company of Shaun Cockman, General Manager of Lewtrenchard Manor.

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    32 min
  • S4 5 Its Flora Day Again!

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    Hi Folks,

    We thought it would be fitting to continue to celebrate this very special time of year by revisiting Series 2, Episode 2 of The Parson and the Songmen series. Like Series 2, Episode 1, which we uploaded for you last week, this podcast tells the story of another famous Cornish May celebration - Flora Day, held in Helston every year on, or around, the 8th of May.

    Summer is a comin' and winter is gone!

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    12 min
  • S4 4 Oss Oss Wee Oss! For Summer Is A-Coming Today!

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    Hi Folks, and a Merry May Day to One And All!

    In a fit of May Day frivolity, we thought it would be fitting to revisit S2 1, released on May 1st 2024, which took us to the Padstow May Day celebration, tells  winter that enough is enough and... Summer Is A-Coming Today!

    Oss Oss Wee Oss!

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    17 min
  • S4 3 A Foolish Man Builds His House On Sand

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    ...Or does he?

    Visit The Castle in Bude, on the North Cornish coast, and you will see a substantial building that has been resting happily on sand dunes for nearly 200 years!

    Mike has been a volunteer at The Castle Museum and Heritage Centre for a number of years and thought it was high time that he did a podcast on the history and inhabitants of this amazing building. 

    These four walls certainly do have some stories to tell, so let's join Mike in the company of Janine King, Heritage Curator at The Castle,  to hear all about it.

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    26 min
  • S4 2 Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long Leggedy Beasties...

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    Well here we are, it's been a while, but here is the second episode in the fourth series of The Parson and the Songmen!

    One of the themes for this series will be to explore Sabine Baring-Gould's other interests, apart from folk song collecting, and in this episode we explore his fascination with all things supernatural... So for those of a delicate nature, then be prepared!

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    32 min
  • S4 1 I Can't Stop!

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    Welcome to this first episode in the fourth series of The Parson and the Songmen!

    We kick the series off in fine style by meeting Cornwall-based singer/songwriter Chris Hytch and hearing some of the songs from his band Annown's CD 'A Half A Face'.

    Chris has a passion for Cornish folklore and history and has the uncanny knack of being able to take an old, old story, give it some extra twists and turns, maybe add a bit of humour, and end up with a fresh-sounding, clever, modern song.

    In fact, such is Chris's appetite to seek out new folklore or history and turn them into fresh songs that he will openly admit... "I can't stop!"

    Intrigued? Well listen on.

    https://www.facebook.com/chris.hytch/?locale=en_GB

    https://www.annown.co.uk/

    https://annown.bandcamp.com/

    Support the show

    https://gofund.me/48985b32 PLEASE VISIT TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE RUNNING COST OF THE PODCASTS

    Mike's website: mikebosworth.uk FOR ALL LINKS TO INTERVIEWEES AND ORGANISATIONS

    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Parson-and-the-Songmen/100093220748945/

    Mike's YouTube page:
    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thimblerigg+videos

    Sabine Baring-Gould Centenary Celebration Group:  https://www.sbgcentenary.co.uk/

    Simon Mayor: mandolin.co.uk  

    Mike O'Connor: http://www.lyngham.co.uk/

    Barbara Griggs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Arganteilin-Harp-Cornwall/dp/0954106857

    Pete Coe: https://petecoe.co.uk/

    Castle Heritage Centre, Bude: ...

    43 min

About The Parson & the Songmen

From the publisher's feed

The Reverend Sabine Baring Gould was an exceptional parson and squire from Devonshire, England. 
He is probably best remembered as the composer of the hymn 'Onward Christian…