Social History

Miss Dorothy Blake was born in Barton Manor on the Osborne estate on the Isle of Wight in November 1886. Her father had recently been appointed agent to the estate and, in this capacity, was responsible for arranging Queen Victoria's daily tours of the grounds when she was in residence. These recordings were made in 1965 when Miss Blake was nearly 80 and tell of the ageing Queen's life at Osborne. Regular Royal visitors at this time were the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and their children, Prince Henry of Battenburg and his wife Princess Beatrice (who was Queen Victoria's youngest daughter) with their children Prince Alexander - who was born within a fortnight of Miss Blake - Princess Ena (Victoria Eugenie 1887 - 1969), Prince Leopold and baby Prince Morris. The interview is full of domestic detail and an insight into the life of the Victorian royal family from a perspective not recorded in the history books.

Category: Social History For more information please click on the disc cover or catalogue number

	CD-SDL 220 Great Western In Gloucestershire Gloucestershire was well placed on the Great Western Railway map, being interlaced with branch and main lines. These recordings are of the last days of mainline steam operation and include recordings on the old Severn and Wye section in the Forest of Dean, The Chalford railcar and many other atmospheric and historic recordings.
	CD-SDL 222 Cotswold Characters Stories and reminiscences of country life in the Cotswold Hills in the Early 20th Century.
	CD-SDL 234 Parry's Barrel Organ The music of "John Longman's New Invented Patent Barrel Organ" with bells, drum and triangle built around 1810 and which accompanied Sir William Edward Parry on his Arctic expeditions in the early 19th Century. Not only did it entertain the sailors but intrigued eskimos en route.
	CD-SDL 247 Cotswold Craftsmen Recollections of traditional country crafts by some of the last exponents. An important social document of the trades and crafts that once formed a central role in rural life.
	CD-SDL 266 Staverton Bridge Sam Richards - voice, whistle, field organ, percussion, Tish Stubbs - voice, field organ, percussion, Paul Wilson - voice, guitar, lute, banjo, percussion This 1970s folk album borrows from many influences - medieval vocal harmonies, travellers song-style and the use of drums for song accompaniment. Three singers combine to produce an album at once innovative and political. Thirty years on and this album is just as relevant today.
	CD-SDL 267 Cotswold Voices This album features the dialect of the Gloucestershire Cotswolds with recollections, poetry and humour connected with days long past. The real stars are George and Dorcas Juggins who were 'famous' in the Stroud valleys and remembered by many people for their unique slant on life.
	CD-SDL 268 Cotswold Ballads The popular Cotswold poetry of Frank Mansell read by him with some set to music and sung by Peter Tatham and Celia Carroll
	CD-SDL 280 Invitation To North America The New World Seen Through English Folk Song sung by Tish Stubbs and Sam Richards accompanying themselves on whistle, guitar, drum, accordion, mouthorgan, Anglo-concertina, spoons, Appalachian dulcimer and an original portable harmonium
	CD-SDL 284 Steam and Harness Recollections of past methods of power and transport on the Cotswolds
	CD-SDL 285 Memories Of Osborne Miss Dorothy Blake was born in Barton Manor on the Osborne estate on the Isle of Wight in November 1886. Her father had recently been appointed agent to the estate and, in this capacity, was responsible for arranging Queen Victoria's daily tours of the grounds when she was in residence. These recordings were made in 1965 when Miss Blake was nearly 80 and tell of the ageing Queen's life at Osborne. Regular Royal visitors at this time were the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and their children, Prince Henry of Battenburg and his wife Princess Beatrice (who was Queen Victoria's youngest daughter) with their children Prince Alexander - who was born within a fortnight of Miss Blake - Princess Ena (Victoria Eugenie 1887 - 1969), Prince Leopold and baby Prince Morris. The interview is full of domestic detail and an insight into the life of the Victorian royal family from a perspective not recorded in the history books.
	CD-SDL 300 While I Work I Whistle Songs and Humour of the Cotswolds including Granny's Old Armchair, When I Took My Nance To Church, Johnny Ochre, Farmer Giles, To Be A Farmer's Boy, While I Work I Whistle, When Jones Ale Was New and plenty of old rural jokes and amusing anecdotes.
	CD-SDL 301 Down To Earth Mrs. Elliot was the eldest girl of a family of sixteen. Her vivid descriptions of the life of a poor rural family in the late 19th century are both fascinating and revealing. This kind of reminiscence rarely makes it into the history books and the descriptions are made all the more poignant by Mrs Elliot's gentle delivery.
	CD-SDL 309 Kilvert's Diary Timothy Davies Readings from the fascinating and illuminating diary of the Rev. Francis Kilvert
	CD-SDL 316 Forest Talk A memorable evening of music, memories and laughter from the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire with Winifred Foley, Harry Beddington, Keith Morgan and Dick Brice
	CD-SDL 322 Geoffrey Woodruff Entertains Geoffrey Woodruff is an expert on the Bristol dialect and his exposition on this subject made him a household name in the City and beyond. His two original 7" records are now combined and heard on CD for the first time.
	CD-SDL 338 Children's Singing Games A wealth of skipping, ball-bouncing, dipping, line and ring games from England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales recorded by Fr Damian Webb in the 1960s whilst the traditions continued in play-ground and street. Dozens of intriguing examples.
	CD-SDL 358 Keep The Home Fires Burning The songs and music of the First World War from the original 78 rpm recordings and street pianos ('barrel organs') of the day.
	CD-SDL 385 The Musical Life Of Samuel Pepys A real slice of history in which Richard Wistreich reads extracts from the Diary relating to Pepys' musical experiences and sings some of Pepys' favourite songs including: Arise, arise, ye subterranean winds, Lucifero, Beauty retire, Cloris Yielding, Hero's Complaint, Inconstancy return'd, Down to the very centre of the earth.
	CD-SDL 425 English Customs and Traditions Many of these customs go back to the dawn of time and their meaning is often mysterious but somehow are as relevant today and attract a great deal of interest
	CD-SDL 434 Gloucestershire Characters Recollections from the Forest of Dean, Severn Vale and high Cotswold
	CD-SDL 435 George Swinford of Filkins George Swinford was about 75 years of age when recorded in 1962. His family had lived in Filkins for several generations and, like his father, he worked as a mason. His recollections are interesting not only as a social history document of rural life but also due to his unusual associations with famous men of the day. In 1925 he went to work as estate manager for Sir Stafford Krips whom he came to know well and through him frequently met and talked with prime movers in the early Labour Party.; ; Pandit Nehru also visited him at his house when staying in the Krips household. George Swinford was always intrigued by old artifacts dug up whilst doing building work and this culminated in Sir Stafford, who always took a close interest in his finds, buying a property for George Swinford to set up as a folk museum.
	CD-SDL 441 South Moon Riding [Book & CD] In addition to full printed texts and many beautiful photos, Gef Lucena reads his own poems on the included CD. These 32 poems on various subjects have been highly praised by other poets, musicians, artists, historians and, in particular, wildlife experts. ‘Inspirational’, ‘very accessible and evocative’, ‘delightful and beautifully produced’, ‘I am absolutely bowled over, it is such a delightful compilation’, ‘I `felt` every line, it is inspirational, the colours… well, everything that is written, beautiful. I cannot say more, It means so much inwardly’, ‘I've already been recommending it to friends’. These are just some of the comments received on pre-publication copies sold.
	CD-SDL 444 The Funny Side of Saydisc This anthology of wit and humour has been drawn from Saydisc’s vast archives going back over 50 years. Here is nearly 80 minutes of a wide variety of humour from our catalogue created since 1965 and exploring material from Victorian times to the present day. We hope it provides amusement and even inspiration. It is a window into our vast array of musical and non-musical recordings from all corners of the world.
	CD-SDL 445 Victoriana - Music, Verse & Recollections from the Time of Queen Victoria Music, Verse and recollections from the time of Queen Victoria from Kenneth Williams, Miss Dorothy Blake's personal account of life with the Queen at Osborne House, The Broadside Band, Richard Burnett and many more with a detailed 32 page booklet with numerous quotations from Queen Victoria's journals, Mendelssohn letter and other historical background information.