The Woodfalls Band

Vale Road, Woodfalls, Salisbury. Wiltshire. SP5 2LT Nationally, brass band enthusiasts have heard of The Woodfalls Band, but most are intrigued to know where they are situated. Woodfalls is a small village 9 miles South of Salisbury and just one mile from the beautiful New Forest. There are under 1000 people living in the village, but the enthusiasm for music is traditionally very high and musical talent is in abundance. The original idea to form a band at Woodfalls was by Charles and George Mitchell in 1874 at the foundation ceremony of the new Methodist Chapel. Soon, with John Green and other young men from the village they met to form the band, in fact most were from three families, the Greens, Warners and Mitchells. In the early days the members met as often as they could in the house of William Green and in the summer at the request of Mr. Mark Warner in the local chapel. George and Charles Mitchell gave the first music instruction. At first they could only master hymns and eventually attached themselves to the local “Band of Hope” organization, playing hymns at their meetings and for local school treats. The earliest recorded event was in 1882, when Captain Foster, of the Salvation Army was improperly imprisoned and on his release was marched through Salisbury to a tremendous reception by the Woodfalls Temperance Band.