Blessing the Brine - Nantwich Ballad

We have been helping Nantwich Museum to find a tune for an old, mostly forgotten song Blessing the Brine. This was reputedly sung at Ascension Day at a holiday to bless the brine well in Nantwich.
The words are recorded in Egerton Leigh's book Cheshire Ballads and Tales published in 1867. The festival was recorded by Rev Joseph Partridge in 1774 and mentioned by Thomas Pennant in his Travels written in 1784.

Our colleague in Ecosal-UK, Tom Lane, is part of a folk group in Lincolnshire and with Nigel Creasey and Teri Clarke kindly arranged a traditional folk tune to the words.

Video of Blessing the Brine recorded by Nigel Creasey and Teri Clarke.



The song will be sung at the 2015 Salt Sunday event, designated by Bishop of Birkenhead, which will be held at Reaseheath College, Nantwich on Sunday 17 May, 2015, which this year is also Ascension Sunday the right day for the song.