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Hemyock Castle
Ancient Heart of the Blackdowns

Wassailing Killerton Cider Orchard 2002

Traditionally, to ensure a good apple crop, wassails are held in cider orchards. A local ceremony is held on "twelfth night" – January 6th (Epiphany, also known as old Christmas Day).

In spite of very heavy rain, people gathered around a token cider apple tree in Killerton's cider orchard to celebrate the previous year's crop and "drive out evil influences."

The Voices in Common group from Exeter and friends led singing, ceremonies, and dancing.

Photo of Wassailing the cider orchard
Wassailing the Cider Apple Tree.

Live Recordings (in MP3 Format)

Note: The rain was very heavy, affecting the performers and their instruments. The recording tape (from a basic portable cassette recorder) was later damaged. But these recording give a flavour of this memorable and enjoyable event.

The Circle Dance was recorded by a dancer circling the tree and musicians, so the sound changes as the dancers move around the circle, approaching and then retreating from the musicians.

Click the links below to hear these extracts of wassails in MP3 Format. (Most web browsers can play this format.)

  1. Gathering for the Wassail – MP3
  2. The Dartmoor Wassail – MP3
  3. Apple Round Song – MP3
  4. Wassail Medley – MP3
  5. Anointing the Tree – MP3
  6. Traditional Circle Dance – MP3

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Hemyock Castle is a privately owned, scheduled ancient monument;
Normally only open for public tours on Bank Holiday Mondays
(2 to 5 pm) between Easter and September.

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Hemyock Castle, Hemyock, CULLOMPTON, Devon, EX15 3RJ, UK.
© 2001–2021. Prepared and published by Curlew Communications Ltd