48 West Hill, Highgate (G.R. Woodward), 1922 - 1935

File — Box: 13, Folder: 1-2

Scope and Contents

Approximately 30 small booklets of secular and religious poetry and music published privately by British Anglican priest G.R. Woodward at his home in Highgate Village, London. Much of the verse was translated by Woodward from Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and German, though some is original, including the first appearance of the carol “Ding Dong Merrily On High” in Carols for Yule-Tide, 1922. Also included are two books by Woodward professionally published by A.R. Mowbray and Co. Limited in London: Acta Sanctorum, 1924 and The Cowley Carol Book, 1935. Occasional manuscript material such as letters, leaflets, or other small pieces of ephemera are present along with individual pamphlets. Materials included in the collection are as follows:

Carols for Yule-Tide, 1922

The Babe of Bethlehem, 1923

Carmina Paschalia, 1924

Low Sunday at Gangra, 1924

Greek Anthology: 133 Love-Epigrams in English Verse, 1924

Sanctorum Parvulum, 1925

Domestica, 1925

Theokritos, 1925

Greek Anthology: Beauty-Epigrams Turned into English Verse, 1926

Greek Witticisms told in English Verse, 1926

The Story of Kleobis and Biton Told in English Rime, 1928

Tart and Homely Gibes of Greek Epigrammatists, 1928

Spring-Time Songs, 1928

Miscellaneous Verse Sacred and Secular, 1928

Translations of Italian, French and German Poems, 1928

Gleanings from Ancient Olive-yards Greek and Roman, 1928

St. Halward, the Martyr: also Two Moral Fables, 1929

The Story of Arion and the Dolphin, 1929

A Bunch of Grapes from Ancient Greek Vineyards Crushed into English Measures, 1929

Greek Anthology: Epigrammata Heroica Drawn into English Verse, 1929

Greek Epigrams on and by Famous Poets and Musicians, 1929

Some Remnants of Greek Comedy, 1929

Epigrams on Sappho and other famous Greek Lyric Poetesses, 1931

A Garland of Spiritual Flowers, 1931

Five and Forty Examples of The Epigram Sepulchral, 1931

Tales of Sea-Sorrow from The Greek Anthology, 1931

Greek Epigrams on Timon, Diogenes and Others, 1931

Greek Epigrams Religious and Dedicatory Part I, 1931

Greek Epigrams Religious and Dedicatory Part II, 1931

Dates

1922 - 1935

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Biographical / Historical

G.R. Woodward (1848-1934) was an English Anglican priest, poet, and musician who wrote largely religious verse, both original and translated from ancient, medieval, and early modern authors. He had many hobbies, including printing and bookmaking and operated a private press in his home at 48 West Hill, Highgate, London. He is perhaps best known for writing the lyrics to the popular Christmas Carol “Ding Dong Merrily on High”, first published in 1922.