Cambourne Hill Goin' up Camborne 'll comin' down, Goin' up Camborne 'll comin' down The 'osses stood still, The wheels turned aroun' Goin' up Camborne 'll comin' down White stockans, white stockans she wore, White stockans, white stockans she wore, White stockans she wore, White stockans she wore, Goin' up Camborne 'll comin' down Goin' up Camborne 'll comin' down, Goin' up Camborne 'll comin' down The 'osses stood still, The wheels turned aroun' Goin' up Camborne 'll comin' down This song conjures up a picture of a horse drawn coach sliding up and down a snowy hill but it dates from 1801 when Richard Trevithick's steam locomotive first carried a load of passengers up the hill at Camborne. It is said that the attendants had their legs bandaged with white flannel to prevent the steam from harming them. But the white stockings may refer to the girls at the fuse (explosives for the mining) factory who wore them. The wheels were turned around by the engine while the horses looked on in amazement as did everyone else. BAZ BAZ Apr98
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!