Buskers, Street Entertainers in Bewdley, Worcestershire*

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• A mixture of Fact and Folly. Hello, I am Wild Bill Hook, a pleasant sort of guy that is never happier than when I am by water, its in my blood as I am a direct descendent of the Blackstone Hermit, I will tell you more about that laters. I was sitting minding my own business one day sipping a brew by the River Severn, when I was recruited as a trusty foot soldier in the crusade to locate and record the entire route of Riddings Brook. As the saying goes, better the devil you know than the devil you don’t, and very few people are aware of Riddings route , I wonder if anyone has ever walked its entire length, certainly not in recent years. It all started out of boredom, but now the interest has crept up from behind and grabbed me by the hereditary relationship I share with water, shaking it in the process, I almost spilt some Brew ! ( almost !!!!!! LOL ) Common sense dictates that the route should start from the end of the Brook where it joins the Severn and work our way upstream. That way when we locate a blockage in a culvert, we can facilitate its clearing, lowering the overall level to its designed and revealing the inlet a plan that has worked well to date. The investigation and elaboration of possible scenarios linked to the past make the whole journey very interesting, as well as being great fun swinging my trusty Bill Hook to thrash my way to culvert inlets and outlets. Why Me ? Its more than a tradition, its sort of runs through my blood, the defending of Bewdley, its property and folk. An Act of 1430 recites that the Severn is common to all the king's liege-people to carry all manner of merchandise to and fro as well in trowes and boats as in floats or drags. This did not, however, put an end to the disputes between the river-side towns, for the bailiffs of Worcester continued to levy a toll on every boat that passed under their bridge. An inquiry into the matter, which was held in 1504, seems to have established the right of the Worcester bailiffs to exact dues from those who tied at their quays, but the Bewdley men subsequently complained that they were compelled to 'cum out of the Kynge's hye streym with their merchandize and to pay the seyd summes of money and also to make sale of their merchaundize contrary to their myndes' because the citizens of Worcester set upon them with stones and arrows if they showed signs of passing the quay. Full passage HERE. My Great, great great great great greatgrandfather fondly known as Wild Bill Cabbage Basher, was there, armed with a fearsome cabbage to stalk to fend off the Worcester riff raff. Although his services were in great demand, it often took in excess of 12 strong men to prise him from the local hostelry bar, but never a drop of drink did he spill, another family tradition ! Redstone Cliff, in which is the famous hermitage of Layamon, a monkish historian of the 13th century, who is said to have composed a “Chronicle of Britain,” embracing that mythical period extending from Brute to Cadwallader. Blackstone Rock, a great outcrop of sandstone rising sheer from the river, is shrouded with trees. Springs bubble up through the underlying sandstone, just as they do at Spring Grove House (now the Safari and Leisure Park). In the 18th century a hermit or holy man lived in a small hollow in the rock. It was a treacherous spot for river currents (the Severn has a tidal bore), and to safeguard their passage the sailors would throw money and gifts from the trows to the hermit, thinking that his prayers would ensure a successful trip. Sometimes as many as 400 trows could be waiting between Bewdley and Blackstone for high tide. My Great Great Great Grandfather,was that Hermit. Though Holy in name alone meaning his attire opposed to his religious beliefs. His name was Wild Bill Angona mo by all accounts due to his raucious call of “ Ang on a mo, I avs only the 1 pair of ‘ands” during busy times, where the demand for prayers from as many as 400 trows was demanding, but not as dangerous as the throwing of gifts from such a number. He met an untimely death from a mis judged flagon, it is rumoured his call can still be heard across Blackrock in the dead of night. Tracing back to 1848 records, its states, On Wassall Hill, about half a mile from the bank of the Severn, are the remains of a small camp, supposed by Dr. Nash to have been occupied by Henry IV., in his pursuit of Owen Glyndwr, after the burning of the city of Worcester; and at Blackstone rock, between Stourport and Bewdley, are the remains of a hermitage and chapel, now converted into an out-house for agricultural implements. There are several chalybeate springs, of which the one most strongly impregnated is at Round Hill, near the town; and the dropping-well on Burlish Common is celebrated for its efficacy in curing diseases of the eye. Richard Baxter, the celebrated nonconformist, was for some time vicar of the parish: the pulpit in which he preached is preserved in the vestry of the Unitarian meeting-house. Copyright © 2008 University of London & History of Parliament Trust Futher Reading HERE. By 1842 my great grandfather Wild Bill Poacher had abandoned the hermit scam, shirking for various rich employers clearing ditches and ensuring the free flow of waters joining the Severn, while thinning out their game, cellars, fish, game and stock by what ever method was required. Indeed it was often stated by visitors to his humble hovel that his table was spread like a banquet as if the King himself be feasting and drink enough for several taverns. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wild Bill attempts Hitch Hiking --------- without success, unsurprisingly ! LOL In recent years Wild Bill has gained quite a reputation, one particular incident in the old Spar shop springs to mind; A woman was shopping at her local supermarket where she selected: 2 litres of low fat milk, a carton of eggs, 2 litres of orange juice, a head of lettuce, half a dozen tomatoes, a 500g jar of coffee, a 250g pack of bacon As she was unloading her items on the conveyor belt to check out, Wild bill Hook; who was a little bit drunk; was standing behind her, watched as she placed the items in front of the cashier. While the cashier was ringing up her purchases, Wild Bill calmly stated, 'You must be single.' The woman was a bit startled by this proclamation, but she was intrigued by the derelict's intuition, since she was indeed single. She looked at her six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about her selection that could have tipped off Wild Bill to her marital status. Curiosity getting the better of her, she said, 'Well, you know what, you're absolutely correct. But how on earth did you know that?' Wild Bill replied, 'Cos you're ugly.'

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Last updated: 2009-03-08