"THREE TIDES" THE HORNGARTH ON THE "28 DALES LATER" PODCAST

 https://anchor.fm/28daleslater/episodes/Ep-15-Three-Tides-Yorkshire-Coast-en45h6  

This is another angle on the Horngarth, featured on  the podcast 28 Dales Later, which looks at events and features in the northern landscape. I did  a voice over on this one, drawing on what I wrote for the Flypaper Holiday Special, and some music which sees the piece out.

"This piece is a part of a small body of work from John Hall on the Whitby Horngarth ,or Penny Hedge service, which takes place on Ascension Eve and dates back to the 12th 
century and probably further back than that.

Right...,  Hornblower Tim Osborne with  Lol Hodgsons predecessor as Court Leet Bailiff Harry Green, and below, Harry's predecessor Harold Hartland.

It is tempting to explain , and so in an attempt to resist a single p.o.v, the work circles around the Service. "The Tide Will Turn" - which featured in the Broadcast Arts Festival Radiophrenia - draws on interviews and donated recordings from members of the Hutton family, who delivered the service until it was taken on by the Court Leet. "Three Tides' does offer some sort of an overview , a rumination on The Situation and hums and haws about next year..the Horngarth film looks at the craft involved in its planting and its place in the life of the town. It weaves original footage, interviews and donated material. And then there's a pop song. The one voice heard in each piece is that of the current Bailliff who currently delivers the service.

As is made clear in some of the donated audio, the Service goes under the radar of much of the towns day to day, unadopted by visitor culture. And, while a bit more local interest would be appreciated, it isn't Old Weird England, a tourist attraction or a participation sport. The appended legend of murder and penance has a sense of the prequel to it...Horngarth: The Early Years; ripe for wickermannerisms and teatowels, its sense could sink under the sodden weight of black bonnets .. but that hasn't happened. There is something to be celebrated in the way the service - a small thing of early spring mornings - has held its own. 
Made with the support Of Arts Council England, British Pathe, Doc Rowe and Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society, the film was screened as part of Whitby's online Folk Week in 2020 and an earlier version was included the online Furness Traditions festival in July 2020. John plans to screen the piece in Ulverston and in Whitby as soon as The Situation allows.

John will be back on the North Yorks coast to take things further next year."