The Burning of Bartle: Video
We finally have some footage of the rarely seen “Burning of Bartle” - an annual event in West Witton, Yorkshire Dales National Park. A centuries old poem is recited which recounts the downfall of Bartle. Men carry an effigy through the village reciting this poem and knocking on doors in the hope of a dram or two of whisky. At the end of the village, Bartle is set alight atop a bonfire and everyone gets drunk. A great way to spend the August Bank Holiday Saturday night. This year’s burning took place on Saturday August 23rd around 9pm. They even got a police escort this time around! Watch the video to get the idea.
At Penhill crags he tore his rags,
At Hunters Thorn he blew his horn,
At Capplebank Stee he brake he knee,
At Grassgill Beck he brake his neck,
At Wadhams End he could not fend,
At Grassgill End we made his end.
Shout, boys, shout!
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[...] See the new video of The Burning of Bartle here [...]
You can go to the next Burning of Bartle around the end of August next year.
My husband, Robert, chanted the doggerel this year and has carried “Bartle” for many years. The Feast is NOT always held on the Bank Holiday Saturday- it has to be held on the Saturday nearest the 24th August and next year (and the following two/three years) will NOT be held on the Bank Holiday weekend but on the weekend before.
I was corrected by Rob Scott shortly after typing the article. I still managed to make it this year, however, thanks to the handy posters dotted around the village. You’ll see that your husband is now a Youtube star!
Yes, I did point that out. A common error. The recent addition of bagpipes is a new one for me, as was the Police escort. Shame it didn’t seem as busy as it used to be - maybe the caravan park shakeup has had an impact on that?
If anyone from Witton reads this, then I will buy them a pint if the first thing they say to me next time I see them are the words “I’m Going Live with Sarah Green”.