19th Century
Mally Didn’t Come
A Joe Wilson song written well over a century ago, but with the tune provided more recently, describing a scene that must have been re-enacted many times since, in the same location and which will continue to be in the future. Joe was a sad loser when it came to courting women and here he shows us how he suffered!
The Murder of Mary Donnelly
I saw these lyrics in a book about Tommy Armstrong and put a tune to them. It’s a true, horrific and sad story with as much relevance now as on the day it was written over 100 years ago.
Sheel Raw Flood
Another Tommy Armstrong song. Here Tommy hilariously describes the travails of people caught out by a 19th century Tyneside flood. Methinks those north easterners who have recently suffered from climate change floods won’t find quite so funny.
Winter’s Gibbet
Above Elsdon in Northumberland, on a stretch of desolate moorland, stands Winter’s Gibbet – a sight once seen that you will never forget. In 1791 William Winter’s body was hung up there in full view of the scene of his crime for the murder of Margaret Crozier of the Raw, Elsdon. The present gibbet was erected on the exact site of the original.
Durham Gaol
For years Durham has been the most famous gaol in the North East. Tommy Armstrong told people that he had spent time in there and here he describes what it was like.