The Horn Blowers Of Bainbridge-Wensleydale

In 1345 Sir Peter Routh, was chief forester of the Wensleydale forest. How changed is the aspect since then !
Enclosed by stone walls, few reminders of the Old Forest which stretched at the least estimate, twelve miles by eight, remain.

One old custom at Bainbridge, linking the memory to the past.
Every night at ten o'clock, from the feast of Holy Rood, September 27th to Shrovetide, the forest horn was sounded to guide benighted - travellers who may have lost their way amongst the mountains and forests of Wensleydale, a not uncommon event, as many a one has found to his undoing in the past, when more travelling afoot was done than now.

The long drawn sounding wail of the horn conjures up pictures out of the dim past. Shadowy figures of huntsmen in old-time costume flit before our mental gaze.

The remembrance of the Forest is still preserved at Bainbridge by the custom of blowing a horn at ten o'clock every night from Holyrood (Sept. 27th) to Shrovetide (the day before Ash Wednesday), as a guide to belated travellers. It has been conjectured by some that its original purpose may have been to summon back to the camp the Roman soldiers who had strayed into the Forest, but it is much more probable that tradition is correct and that it dates from feudal times. The horn now in use is that of an African or Cape buffalo, and was presented to the village in January, 1864, by Mr. R. H. Harburn, of Bishop Auckland, to replace an old cow's horn,* which was then worn out, the occasion being marked by considerable rejoicings.

Info by Rev Whaley

The office of Horn-blower is now in the gift of the inhabitants, and has no emolument attached to it beyond what the holder may obtain in the way of gratuities. No list of Hornblowers has been preserved; the first within the memory of anyone now living was a woman named Ann Metcalfe, she was succeeded by her son, James Metcalfe, and he about 1837 by his son, Richard Metcalfe. Next came James, Metcalfe, junior, brother of Richard.

James Metcalfe junior who died in 1864 had been in office for over 70 years and used a cow horn said to be several hundred years old, who was followed in 1864 by Jeffrey Metcalfe, of another family, and on his resignation in 1884 the present incumbent of the office, James Horner, was appointed. There was another cow horn dating back to 1611, the present horn is an African buffalo’s.

There were formerly two horns in existence, the first of them was blown by old James Metcalfe, known in the village as "Aud Jim Purins," to distinguish him from the many other families of that name. He gave up office in 1864, at the age of 87 years, having blown from a youth. He excelled as a blower, keeping up a loud long blast.

The oldest horn

James Metcalfe, a son of the above, was next in succession but he failed to blow at the proper hour, so a new horn was procured. Of the two old horns, the one blown by James Metcalfe, locally known as "Aud Jim Purins," tradition says was many centuries old ; and the other on which "Jimmy Blead" blew, is said to have been used as far back 1611.

BAINBRIDGE FOREST HORN FETE 1864

Thursday, March 10th, 1864, was the eventful day chosen by the Forest Horn Committee for the commemoration of the ancient custom, and inauguration of a New Horn presented to the village by Mr. R. H. Harburn of Bishop Auckland.

The morn was ushered in by the sun rising above the horizon with great brilliancy, illuminating the heavens with a brilliant red; after a while the fleeting clouds began to collect together and down their frozen particles, adorning the earth below with a pure white garb; the weather clearing again about mid-day showed the deep blue sky and completed, as it were, the three national colours, adding no little joy to the inhabitants of Bainbridge, who at that time of the day were being enlivened by the sweet strains of the Band and the parading of the prancing steeds previous to the afternoons proceedings.

At one o'clock, a blast from the Forest Horn summoned all to the Temperance Hall to form the procession, which at two o'clock proceeded from that place in the following order:
A large flag, borne by four men, bearing the inscription, "Independent Order of Rechabites."

The Bainbridge Temperance Brass Band.

A splendid two-poled Flag, representing the new Forest Horn and Bainbridge Crest with the inscription "BAINBRIDGE FOREST HORN" MARCH 10TH 1864

The Mayor; (pro tem) and Hornblower each mounted on Jerusalem Ponies, harnessed

The Mayor in scarlet uniform, and the Hornblower himself clad in magnificent doublet, red breeches, white leggings and an imposing cap and feather in the style of Robin Hood bearing both the Old and New Horns.

Twelve Wardens, two a breast, mounted on the choicest greys, decorated with red ear-caps, rosettes, and ribbons, Mr. J. Clarkson and Mr. C. Trotter in front. The Teachers of the Wesleyan and Independent Sunday Schools, followed by upwards of 100 Scholars bearing Banners.

The New Horn measures in length 2ft 9 in, and 1ft 3in, in circumference at the bell end; it is ornamented with brass, the work of Mr. J. P. Addison, Askrigg, and has the following inscription on it, "Presented to the village of Bainbridge, by R. H. Harburn, Bishop Auckland, who brought it from South Africa, January 16th, 1864. The village was perambulated; a trip was like-wise taken to Askrigg, where the streets were crowded to excess. The procession halted in various places, and the following speech delivered by the Mayor:-"Ladies and Gentlemen, - It is with the highest degree of pleasure and gratitude that I appear before you this day, in present position that I hold, to address you on this particular occasion, the commemoration of the Forest Horn. The Forest Horn my friends was first instituted in Bainbridge about 700 years ago, for the guidance of benighted travellers in the vast forest which at that time, encircled the village; and we believe it has been blown without intermission every year since that date, at ten o'clock each night, from Holy rood feast to Shrove-tide. In consequence of the present Old Horn having become dilapidated, a gentleman from Bishop Auckland has very generously presented to this village, a large African Ox's Horn, which we this day inaugurate; then I say, we cannot do less than return Mr. Harburn our sincere thanks and wish him long life, with prosperity and happiness. In conclusion, I feel proud to see so many noble, and loyal patriots at the present demonstration."

"GOD SAVE THE QUEEN."

The Hornblower of Bainbridge 1898

James Horner who died in 1899

James Horner

The old custom of sounding the forest horn at Bainbridge from Holyrood to Shrovetide has been in vogue for many centuries, and on a fine clear, night, its sustained wailing sound can be heard for miles in the valley. The office of horn-blower has been held by families called Metcalfe, and today the task is performed by Mr, James Metcalfe, who, by the way, is the village cobbler.

There were however, a few exceptions to the rule of office-bearers, and many people in the district can vividly recall the days when Mr. James Horner, better know as “old Jam ,Orner”, sounded his deep, long blast nightly “as regular as a clock.”
He held office from 1884 to 1899. A tailor by trade, he had only a chequered means of existence, and it is recorded, that in winter he was often put to sore straits wherewith to find a meal. He was employed as a watcher by the Askrigg Angling Association, and was himself a dab hand at “pulling ‘em out.” He augmented his small income by acting as guide to visitor-anglers, and was particularly useful in pointing out to the fishermen where the “smittle spots”, in other words, the pools which held the most fish, were.
“Smittle”, was a word used locally to denote a likely to fill a pannier.

Old Jam, however, had a voice, and his favourite number at social gatherings to which he had been specially invited by friends was the old-time song and chorus, ending with the words, “For when I was single, my pockets did jingle, and I long to be single again.”
The item was always a popular feature, and there were repeated encores.

A tombstone erected to his memory in Askrigg churchyard by “a few friends”, records his services as Horn-blower and Watcher for the Association, with the underlined text, “For they were Fishers”.

1907

The horn now in use is that of an African ox. There were formerly two horns in existence, the first of them was blown by old James Metcalfe, known in the village as "Aud Jim Purins," to distinguish him from the many other families of that name. He gave up office in 1864, at the age of 87 years, having blown from a youth. He excelled as a blower, keeping up a loud long blast.

James Metcalfe, a son of the above, was next in succession but he failed to blow at the proper hour, so a new horn was procured. Of the two old horns, the one blown by James Metcalfe, locally known as "Aud Jim Purins," tradition says was many centuries old ; and the other on which "Jimmy Blead" blew, is said to have been used as far back 1611.

Mr James Chapman of Bainbridge holding the new horn

Hornblower 5th June 1918

James Metcalfe
Image courtesy of Raydale Preserves

Mr Jack Metcalfe Bainbridge blowing the horn in ???

2005 The horn is no longer blown each evening and has not been for several years except for the Metcalf muster earlier this year when once again a Metcalfe sounded the forest horn in Bainbridge.

This page is under development