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The
Romany culture is historically an oral one, the culture and language
being handed on by word of mouth and songs such as Hartlake Bridge
which describe true events remain an important part of local Gypsy
history.
Historical
events have always been commemorated in song. For centuries there
were professional ballad writers who composed verses to mark newsworthy
occasions, these were then printed on single sheets of paper and
sold in vast quantities.
These 'Broadsheet Ballads' were in some ways the pop songs of their
day as well as being a way of spreading news. Songs were written
about military victories, political dealings and other more grizzly
subjects, such as those that claimed to be the last writings of
those who sat in the condemned cells awaiting their public hanging.
Jug of ale
As
well as these professional songwriters there have also always been
the anonymous composers, local singers who created new songs that
were only of real relevance to their immediate communities. They
would have been sung in the local pub on a Saturday night or perhaps
at gatherings around a jug of ale in farmhouse kitchens. These
songs became part of the folk tradition, they never existed in print
but were passed on purely by word of mouth as singers increased
their repertoires by learning from each other.
'Hartlake Bridge' is one such song, it was never written down until
it was recorded by a folk song collector during the early 1970s
from a local Romany Gypsy, Jasper Smith.
 | | Ambrose
Cooper |
Until
then it was unknown outside the local Gypsy community but had survived
by being kept in the family repertoire for several generations.
These traditional songs together with tunes and stories would all
have been heard around the open fires at night as Travellers relaxed
after a day's work.
We don't know who first composed it but the fact that it was important
and relevant to those who sang and listened to it ensured its survival
and today the song is still being sung by Jasper's nephew, Ambrose
Cooper.
| The
Hartlake Bridge Disaster | |
Now
seven and thirty strangers a hopping they had been
They were 'ployed by Mr Cox's down by old Golden Green
For it was in the parish of Hadlow, close by old Tonbridge
Town
That's where they laid those poor souls after they were drowned Now
some were man and women, the others girls and boys
They were a going across the bridge when the horses they took
shy
They were going across the bridge and everyone was drowned
Just to hear the screams of those poor souls as they were
going down Now
people came from everywhere just to see what could be done
But no one was saved that day, they were drowned everyone
No one was saved that day, yes everyone was drowned
To hear the screams of those poor souls when they were going
down Now
some were men and women, the others girls and boys
They were a going across the bridge when the horses they took
shy
They were a going across the bridge and everyone was drowned
Just hear the screams of those poor souls when they were going
down
 Listen
to Jasper sing it
Listen
to Ambrose sing it
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Hartlake
memorial: Hartlake Bridge song
