| Where: | Bodmin, Cornwall - town centre and pubs |
| When: | 6th January (Twelfth Night) |
| Time: | From 2.30 to 3.40 in town centre, then 6.15 onwards |
Bodmin in Cornwall has an ancient tradition of wassailing with written records going back to 1624, when local man and town clerk Nicholas Spry provided a wassail cup and the drink to fill it. Originally the wassailers visited the house of the Mayor and today they begin the day at the council offices in the spirit of the tradition, as well as touring the local hostelries, residential homes and businesses in a twelve hour marathon of song, drink and fundraising. The wassailers are continuing the ancient tradition of the house-visiting custom rather than orchard related events which survive or have been revived elsewhere in the country, and they have two unique songs for their event. Expect a group of smartly dressed gents attired in top hats, wishing everyone a Happy New Year as they tour the town raising money for local charities.
Helpful Hints
When 6th January falls on a Sunday the Wassailers tour town on Saturday 5th instead (this won’t happen for some time).They only decide on the exact itinerary at the last moment, but if you’re in Fore Street during the afternoon you should be able to find them – they call at most of the town pubs and many shops and businesses during the course of the day (see link below for full details and timings). They’re out for hours so there’s plenty of time to catch up with them!
Click here for the website: https://www.bodminwassail.uk
Click here for the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BodminWassail/
Click here for the Town Council’s website : http://www.bodmin.gov.uk/
Many thanks to Jocelyn Murgatroyd for the photographs from 2013.
View this location on the map.
I used to be one of these Bodmin Wassailers about 30 years ago and then my brother took over my place. We now continue the tradition in a small Cambridgeshire village called Lode. If you would like to know more, get in touch!
Dear David,
I’d love to know more! I’ll write up any info you can give me to make a new article for the website – exact details of location, time, date etc would be great and a photo would bring it alive if you have one.
We’ve just returned from a marvellous weekend at the Chepstow Wasail which I’d highly recommend to you. Are you aware of the Campaign for the Revival of Wassailing? They’re doing a survey of wassails held this century and I’m sure would be interested to hear from you, too. I’ll dig out the details for you asap.
Many thanks,
Averil
Hi David!
I’ve dug out the details of the Campaign to Revive Wassailing – no website links but a name & address which I’m sure the organisers won’t mind me passing on as they’d be very interested to hear from you, particularly since you’re on the far side of the country. Here goes:
P N Symonds, The Patch, Coverham Rd, Berry Hill, Coleford, Gloucs – no postcode given but having searched Royal Mail it’s probably GL16 7AU though there wasn’t a perfect match for the house name.
They’re keen to find out traditional Wassail toasts and/or presentations to farmers as well as details of Wassails that have taken place since 2000.
Kind Regards,
Averil
I am a Bodmin wassailer, and I’m about to get started on this years Wassail by making my way to the Mayor’s parlour.
Should be a good day!
Enjoy! If anyone is sober enough to use a camera, maybe you could send me a photo to make my article look more exciting? As we’re so far away (in Northumberland) I think it might be some time before we get the chance to join you and I can take my own!
Averil
Hello Averil.
Once again, a good Wassail! Started at mid-day (Sat) and finished at about midnight. Wassailed about 15 private dwellings as well as shops, pubs, old folks homes, etc. We have a good crew of young men involved ready to take the reigns from the more senior element, and maintain continuity. No photo’s I’m afraid…….. we’re too busy carousing! But other folk take pictures and I’ll try, via this organ, to get you an address or two, in the near future. In the meantime, punch into your search engine, “Bodmin Wassail”, and take a look at some other sights where there are a few pictures. Regards Vic. Legg.
Hi Vic,
Glad to hear it all went well – I’m not surprised there are no photos as it sounds like you were having way too much fun to take any!! Glad to hear you’re keeping up the good work and training some young ‘uns,
Best Wishes,
Averil
Hi Averil.
With regards to Bodmin Wassail photo’s. Give this lady a try.
[email address removed]
She has photographed us and filmed us in recent years.
Give my regards to David Pencheon. Many years ago we used to wassail his parents when they lived in Castle Hill.
All the best. Vic. Legg.
Thanks Vic – I’ll give her a try!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Hello again Vic!
Jocelyn spotted I’d spelled her name wrong in my last message so apologies for that!
Averil
Hi Vic!
Jocleyn kindly provided me with some photos so thanks for the suggestion and have a look at the post with them added – you all look very dapper!
Best Wishes,
Averil
Well Averil, (rapidly polishing finger nails on tail coat lapel), after all, what else would you expect!
Kind regards. Vic.
What a bunch of lounge lizards!
Hi Averil, Great to see you in Bodmin and hope you enjoyed your visit. Nice for me having contact with the North East many memories. The rest of the day went very well indeed and we raised £636 which for a quiet day like Monday was pretty good. Our web site is bodminwassail.uk
Best regards Peter
Dear Peter,
Many thanks for making us so welcome at your wassail – we thoroughly enjoyed our visit! And that’s a great result for your fundraising too, glad to hear it was a good total. We’ll be back at Bodmin I’m certain, so will look out for you when we return. It was very interesting so see such a different type of wassail to the orchard visiting ones we’ve been to previously – and it’s not often we get to see such a well-dressed group of singers 🙂
Best wishes and thanks again,
Averil