The group was initially formed to revive West Gallery Music. These were songs and carols, usually in four-part harmony, which were performed in church galleries during the 18th and 19th centuries. The tradition died out due to various changes in society, including churches adopting organs and harmoniums, thus no longer needing the local band – a process described in Thomas Hardy’s Under the Greenwood Tree. An interesting short introduction to West Gallery music can be found on the West Gallery Music Association website
Many of the old songs and tunes were collected by various people who could see these pieces were going to be lost if not written down, as the old tradition relied on people learning the words and music by ear and remembering it to pass it on to the next generation. Thomas Hardy was one collector, while the Hammond brothers traveled Dorset on their bicycles in the early twentieth century collecting no less than 648 songs: there is a fascinating description of their work on the pages of the William Barnes Society website.
We list below our repertoire to date, with details of origin, arranger and date of first performance by ourselves.
A Waltz from the Hardy Manuscript, arranged by Tim Laycock. 2014.
An Anthem from Isaiah 9 verse 6 for Christmas Day by William Knapp, A Sett of New Psalm Tunes and Anthems, 1738. Edited by A.D. Townsend; instrumental parts, Phil Humphries. 2015.
An Anthem Psalm the 18th by William Knapp, edited by Dave Townsend. This work was dedicated the town of Blandford after a huge fire destroyed most of the town in 1731. William Knapp was a prolific composer originally from Wareham, later becoming Parish Clerk at St James’ Church in Poole; his hymn tune “Wareham” is still in use today.2022.
Anthem the VI, taken out of the Second Chapter of St Luke taken from the book of William Finney, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2024.
As Pants the Hart From Somerset and Dorset sources, 1776/1884. 2018.
At Dawn A round. Words and music by Tim Laycock. 2015
The Astrologer Traditional, collected by the Hammonds from Marina Russell, Upwey, 1906/7. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2014.
Awake and Join the Cheerful Choir W.C. Cocker, Piddletown, 15 October 1827. Edited by A.D. Townsend. 2014.
Away Dark Thoughts William Lake, Winterborne Monkton,1834. Edited by A.D. Townsend. 2013.
Behold! Good News to Man is Come from the Hardy Family Manuscript, adapted by Boyton-Smith and performed by the Hardy Players in the 1908 production of Under the Greenwood Tree; arranged by Phil Humphries. 2019.
Behold the Morning Star Arise Hardy MSS and W.C. Cocker. Edited by Mike Bailey. 2015.
Blue and Buff Jig, Darby Kelly Jig, Captain Dyke, Persian Waltz (instrumental) Benjamin Rose 1820. Arranged by Tim Laycock & Colin Thompson. 2015.
Brown’s Splendour A carol from Fordington, by John Brown,edited by Paul Guppy from a manuscript in the Dorset History Centre.2022.
Christians Awake William Lake, 1834, Winterborne Monkton. Edited by A D Townsend. 2013.
Come Ye Redeemed William Lake, 1834, Winterborne Monkton. Edited by A D Townsend.
The Cottage Waltz From Richard Luckham’s manuscript book, Broadwey, Weymouth. 2023.
The Doctor’s Round A round. Words and music by Tim Laycock. 2015.
Dorset Words by Sir John Betjeman, music by Phil Humphries. 2018.
Dribbles of Brandy (instrumental). Hardy family manuscripts.
The Eagel [sic] (instrumental). Benjamin Rose 1820.
Enrico (instrumental). Hardy MSS. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2015.
Fairy Dance [instrumental]. From the Hardy Manuscript, arranged by Phil Humphries 2026
Ferry Boat [instrumental]. Benjamin Rose MS, 1820. Arranged by Tim Laycock & Colin Thompson, edited by Phil Humphries. 2017.
Fiddleford Polka [instrumental]. By Nick Dunkley, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2024.
TheFloral Dance Four generations of tune, arranged by Phil Humphries: Davies Gilbert 1823; Baring Gould (from J Matthews of Helston) 1888; Arrangement W E Moyle circa 1930; Katie Moss circa 1911. 2025.
The Founders of our Hospital Written by Tim Laycock, arranged by Phil Humphries. Part of a project to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Dorset County Hospital; premiered at the Dorset County Museum on 31 April 2016. The lyrics are based on archives of the hospital researched by Mark Collyer. A video of the performance can be accessed here. 2016.
Four and Twenty Fiddlers A traditional cumulative song, from John Hallet of Mosterton. Arranged by Tim Laycock. 2017.
God’s Dear Son from ‘Some Ancient Christmas Carols’ collected by Davies Gilbert 1822. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2025.
Great Things A poem by Thomas Hardy, arranged by Lizzie Lucas to a traditional tune, and incorporating Here’s a Health to all Good Lasses, The Fairy Dance and The Sheep Shearing Song arranged by Phil Humphries. 2019.
The Green Man Song Words from the family of Dorothy Lawrence. Melody by Tim Laycock, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2016.
Hail Ever Hail, Auspicious Morn Composed by Jos Richards, a Cornish miner in Australia 1893. From The Christams Welcome, Australia, late 19th century. Edited by P J Payton. 2018.
Hail Happy Morn James Saunders His Book, 1842, Puddletown. A recording of this carol from a very early concert can be heard here. Edited by A.D. Townsend. 2013.
Hark Hark, How Sweet the Sound Comes In A carol collected from Thomas Hames’s 1851 manuscript of carols and psalms from Hinton St Mary by A.D. Townsend. 2016.
Hark, the Herald Angel Sing Durweston MS. Arranged by Trevor H. Lloyd Jones. 2015.
Hark, the Herald Angel Sing – see ‘Newton’s or St Paul’s’.
Harlequin Gardener [instrumental]. Benjamin Rose MS, 1820. Arranged by Tim Laycock & Colin Thompson, edited by Phil Humphries. 2017.
The Humstrum Setting of a William Barnes poem about this old country instrument by Anna Eveleigh-Morse. 2018.
I Live Not Where I Love Collected from Robert Barratt in Puddletown. 2022.
In Praise of Dorset Apples Words and music by Ridgeway member, Anna Eveleigh-Morse. Click here to see what she says about it. 2016.
January Waltz (instrumental) A tune by Nick Dunckley, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2019.
Lady Elizabeth’s Hornpipe[instrumental). Benjamin Rose MS, 1820. Arranged by Tim Laycock & Colin Thompson. 2014.
Land of Stone and Bone. A round. Words and music by Tim Laycock, referring to the Artsreach project which brought the Ridgeway Singers and Band into being.
The Levelled Churchyard Words by Thomas Hardy, music by Anna Eveleigh-Morse. Click here to see what she says about it. 2017.
Linden Lea Words by William Barnes, music by R. Vaughan Williams. Arranged by Alec Rowley, transcribed for choir and band by Phil Humphries. 2017.
Lord Nelson’s Hornpipe [instrumental]. From the Hardy manuscript, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2018.
Major Malley’s Reel [instrumental]. From the Hardy manuscript. 2023
Mariner’s Hornpipe [instrumental]. Benjamin Rose MS, 1820. Arranged by Tim Laycock & Colin Thompson. 2014.
Melbury Osmond Wassail The only wassail song from Dorset of which we know. The words were collected by Thomas Hardy. Melody by Tim Laycock, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2016.
Mount Ephraim Benjamin Milgrove. 2023. Edited by Phil Humphries.2023.
My Life’s a Shade Music by William Knapp, New Church Melody, 1751, edited by Phil Humphries. 2017.
My Rosebud in June Collected by the Hammonds from George Dowden, Lackington., arranged by Tim Laycock. 2014.
New Poole – Psalm 107 verse 23 Music by William Knapp, New Church Melody, 1751, edited by Rollo Woods. 2015.
TheNew Rigged Ship [instrumental] From the Thomas Hardy manuscript, arranged by Phil Humphries.2025.
New Sabbath from the Methodist Hymn Book. Composed by T. Phillips, edited by Phil Humphries. 2023.
Newton or St Paul’s A West Gallery version of Hark the Herald Angels Sing, from a Poole MS, 1836; arranged by D.T. Townsend, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2019.
Nothing At All Collected by the Hammonds from Robert Barrett. Arranged by Lizzie Lucas. 2018.
Now to the World From the manuscript of William Lake, 1834, Winterborne Monkto. edited by A.D Townsend. 2013
O What Unbounded Goodness Lord W.C. Cocker Piddletown 15 October 1827. Edited by A.D. Townsend. 2015.
One Night As I Lay On My Bed Collected by the Hammonds from Marina Russell and George House. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2017 with updated version including an extra verse collected from Bill House by N & M Dow from 2025.
Old Foster John Foster, from a Yorkshire manuscript, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2018.
Otford A version of While Sheperds Watched Their Flocks by Night, from the Hardy and Puddletown manuscripts, arranged by D.T. Townsend. 2019.
The Perfect Cure instrumental] Traditional. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2016.
Queen Jane Collected by the Hammonds from Henry Marsh, 1906. Queen Jane was collected by Henry and Robert Hammond from a singer called Henry Marsh. Henry was living in Dorchester at the time, although he came from Powerstock. Usually, The Hammonds usually only note down very brief details about their singers, and it is often just the name of the village or town and the month and year the song was collected. In the case of Mr Marsh, they had noted that he was in the Workhouse, and then crossed that information out, and said he was living in SW Villas near the railway station. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2016.
The Recov’ry [instrumental] Benjamin Rose 1820. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2016.
Rejoice Good Christian Folk and Sing Words by Ridgeway member, Pip Bowell: click here to read about it. Melody and arrangement by Phil Humphries. 2014.
Rejoice Ye Tenants of the Earth From Puddletown, William Gifford’s Twelve New Psalm Tunes, 1804. Edited by A.D. Townsend. 2014.
Remember Adam’s Fall T. Ravenscrot, Melismata 1611.
The Ridgeway Carol: One Bright Star Tim Laycock, Dorset’s well-known folk musician, actor and storyteller, wrote The Ridgeway Carol after looking at a map of the Ridgeway and discerning various attributes linked to the Christmas story. These include the Bronze Age barrows called the Five Marys; Hardy’s monument (comemorating Nelson’s captain at Trafalgar); the White King (a horse cut into a chalk hillside near Weymouth) and the world famous Chesil Beach. Words and melody by Tim Laycock, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2014.
Rolling Home Traditional sea shanty collected by Stan Hugill. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2015.
Rustic Childhood A poem by William Barnes in Standard English (not dialect) set to music by Phil Humphries. 2024.
The Sicilian Dance From Richard Luckham’s manuscript book, Broadwey, Weymouth. 2023.
The Sheepshearing Song Collected by the Hammond Brothers from William Miller of Wooton Fitzpaine in 1906. The music alone forms part of our song “Great Things” (see above). The song is mentioned near the beginning of “Under The Greenwood Tree” by Thomas Hardy. First performed as a song in 2023.
The Shepherds Amazed Bridport manuscript and James Bridcut 1814, Oxfordshire, arranged by D.T. Townsend. 2013.
Shepherds Arise! Be not Afraid A Collection of Dorset Carols, 1926, from Winterborne Zelstone. Arranged by W. A. Pickard-Cambridge. 2017.
Shepherds Keeping Watch by Night A Collection of Dorset Carols, 1926, from the Piddle Valley. Arranged by W. A. Pickard-Cambridge. 2013.
Skekler’s Waltz [instrumental] by Nick Dunkley, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2024.
The Skylark o’er the Moor [instrumental] A tune by Nick Dunckley, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2019.
Softly the Night is Stealing Lyrics by Washburn; Rev. Jonathan Still’s family carol. Tune Massah M. Warner. 2016.
Soldier’s Joy [instrumental]. From the Hardy Manuscript, arranged by Phil Humphries 2026
A Song for Loders Words by Leonard Clarke, tune by Tim Laycock, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2019.
The Song of the Angels at the Nativity Uses the words of ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night’ with music by 18th century Dorset composer, William Knapp. Edited by Phil Humphries. 2023.
Speaking Figure [instrumental]. Benjamin Rose MS, 1820. Arranged by Tim Laycock & Colin Thompson, edited by Phil Humphries. 2017.
Tink a Tink [instrumental] From the Hardy family manuscripts, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2019.
To Portsmouth. A round written by David Meluill in 1612. 2015.
The Twelve Days of Christmas Collected by Cecil Sharp from William Brister in Illminster. 2023.
The Unquiet Grave Collected by the Hammonds from Jane Hann, Stoke Abbott, June 1906. Arranged by Phil Humphries. 2014.
Waterloo Dance[instrumental] Benjamin Rose MS, 1820. Arranged by Tim Laycock & Colin Thompson. 2015.
We Be Three Poor Mariners From Thomas Ravenscroft’s Deuteromelia (1609). Edited by Phil Humphries. 2025.
We Singers Make Bold Traditional arrangement W W Norman, Wheddon Cross, Somerset collected by Bob and Jackie Patten. Adapted for Ridgeway Singers and Band by Phil Humphries.
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night Melody collected by the Hammonds from William Scott of Pulham, Dorset, 1905. Reconstructed by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries. 2014.
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night Martinstown from the Newton Manuscripts 1835.
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night see ‘Otford’.
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night see ‘Song of the Angels at the Nativity’.
The Young May Moon from Thomas Hardy Manuscript, arranged by Phil Humphries. 2025.
Poem: Colours by RS&B singer John Seymour
Poem: The Ridgeway Choir by RS&B singer Philip Bowell
Ridgeway Singers & Band 