Bailey, Mr

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1908

Area: Somerset - North West inc Clevedon

---

Mr Bailey of Bleadon: 35? 2 songs on 7 Aug 1908: Bailey sang two songs (‘The Keeper’ & ‘Tree in the Wood’ FT1774/5). Sharp gave his age as ‘35?’ and in referring to him as ’Mr’ Bailey gave him some social status. It is probably Wadham Bailey, builder and farmer at Rose Farm, Bleadon – aged 42 in the 1911 census (RG14/14587 schedule 51). He was born on 2/5/1868 and would thus have been 40 when he met Sharp. He married Kathleen Fackrell on 16/10/1893 at Bristol St Philip and died 30/6/1945 aged 77.

The other possibility is Alfred George Bailey, a ‘general dealer’ in the village according to 1901 census (RG13/2323 f83 p19) – perhaps not high status enough? Alfred was born 22/6/1871 (making him 37 when he met Sharp). He was baptised on 5/11/1871 in Bleadon church, son of Edmund & Sarah Bailey. Edmund was variously a poulterer, market gardener and then the publican of the Queen’s Arms in Bleadon. Unfortunately Alfred can’t be found in the 1911 census and that’s a problem.