The song is almost always known as the Holy Well, but the title has undergone some mishearing in Mr Smith’s version. The song was taught to him by his grandfather, and Wiggy remembers earning a few pence by singing the carol in a Cotswold pub.

It is clearly related to “The Bitter Withy” which ends with the cheeky children being drowned by the boy Jesus. In “The Holy Well”, Jesus’ attitude is much more conciliatory.

It is not known how old the song it. Broadside versions exist and it has been carried along in oral tradition, very often by gypsy families. Its spread is confined to 3 counties – Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Cornwall, except for one version collected in Kentucky.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 1 July 2015