John Hunsley
Encyclopedia
John Hunsley was a bagpiper from Manton, Linolnshire (near Kirton in Lindsey
) and last known player of the Lincolnshire bagpipes
, which he played until shortly before his death at around 1850
Hunsley's music was described as unrefined, or "unmelodious", but popular amongst his peers. Hunsley was known to play for rioutous parties where guests "danced until the brick dust came through the soles of their feet." One commentator noted that Hunsley's bagpipe was "little more than the Oaten Pipe improved with a bag." Organologist Anthony Baines
notes that Hunsley used to send his pipes to be "tuned" in Edinburgh. Another reference claimed that he took the pipes himself, on a white pony. The same authority recorded that he was a champion boxer and wrestler, defeated only once in his life.
Kirton in Lindsey
Kirton-in-Lindsey, also abbreviated to Kirton Lindsey, is a small town and civil parish in North Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:It is south of Scunthorpe, near the A15 road, and has a total resident population of 2,694....
) and last known player of the Lincolnshire bagpipes
Lincolnshire bagpipes
The Lincolnshire bagpipes are a type of bagpipe native to Lincolnshire in eastern England. The instrument was extinct in the modern era, with a 1901 commentator noting that it had become defunct by 1850. Later researchers identified the last traditional piper as John Hunsley, a 19th century farmer...
, which he played until shortly before his death at around 1850
Hunsley's music was described as unrefined, or "unmelodious", but popular amongst his peers. Hunsley was known to play for rioutous parties where guests "danced until the brick dust came through the soles of their feet." One commentator noted that Hunsley's bagpipe was "little more than the Oaten Pipe improved with a bag." Organologist Anthony Baines
Anthony Baines
Anthony Cuthbert Baines was an English organologist who produced a wide variety of works on the history of musical instruments, and was a founding member of the Galpin Society.-Partial bibliography:...
notes that Hunsley used to send his pipes to be "tuned" in Edinburgh. Another reference claimed that he took the pipes himself, on a white pony. The same authority recorded that he was a champion boxer and wrestler, defeated only once in his life.