Listen to the track:
The Voices of Wembury
In 1855 at Exeter Assizes, Lieutenant Nathaniel Barwell of Wembury House sued his neighbour, James Lockyer of South Wembury, over a strip of land and a wall that blocked a long-used shortcut. The court heard testimony from villagers who swore the ground was private and others who claimed it was public. After heated argument and a flood of witnesses, the jury stopped the judge and found in favour of Barwell. Just days earlier, Barwell’s wife Susan had collapsed and died suddenly after leaving church, casting a shadow over his victory. ( The Weight of Stone song reflects this episode )
[Verse 1]
The gavel falls in Exeter, the jury takes its stand
Barwell claims a strip of earth, a wall across the land
Lockyer speaks for village ways, the path the people knew
The witnesses are waiting now, their stories breaking through
[Chorus]
We are the voices of Wembury
We testify, we swear
Whose land, whose right, whose memory
The voices still are there
[Verse 2]
Reverend Middleton lifts his hand, “The ground was always his”
Andrew nods, and Bews confirms, “He sealed it with a wall of stone and will”
Elizabeth Parson, Fanny Avant, the faithful servants speak
Hockaday and Webb and Aldgate say, “Private ground indeed”
[Chorus]
We are the voices of Wembury
We testify, we swear
Whose land, whose right, whose memory
The voices still are there
[Verse 3]
Richard Anthony rises up, “The way was open wide”
Mary Kingston, Charles Kingcome call, “The folk could walk inside”
Mary Seppings, Peter Loye, the names like echoes fall
Phillip Leonard swears aloud, “It’s freedom for us all”
Hockaday, Kingcome, Avant, Seppings
Webb and Anthony, Middleton, Kingston
Aldgate, Loye, the names collide
Voices rising, side by side
[Chorus ]
We are the voices of Wembury
We testify, we swear
The jury speaks for Barwell’s claim
The voices still are there
[Outro]
In court, in lane, by hedge and stone
The echoes travel on their own
We are the voices of Wembury
The voices still are there