Newcassel Props is a famous folk song written in the 19th century by William Oliver.
The song pays homage to the passing of several local characters, with a small part dedicated to those still living.
THE NEWCASSEL PROPS
Tune—"The Bold Dragoon"
Tune—"The Bold Dragoon"
Oh, waes me for wor canny toon,
It canna stand it lang --
The props are tumbling one by one,
The beeldin seun mun gan;
For Deeth o' lat hez no been blate,
But sent some jovial souls a joggin'
Aw never griev'd for Jacky Tate,
Nor even little Archy Loggan.
But when maw lugs was 'lectrified
Wiv Judy Downey's deeth,
Alang wi' Heufy Scott aw cried,
Till beyth was oot o' breeth;
For greet an' sma', fishwives an' a',
Luik' up tiv her wi' veneration --
If Judy's in the Courts above,
Then for au'd Nick there'll be ne 'cation.
Wiv Judy Downey's deeth,
Alang wi' Heufy Scott aw cried,
Till beyth was oot o' breeth;
For greet an' sma', fishwives an' a',
Luik' up tiv her wi' veneration --
If Judy's in the Courts above,
Then for au'd Nick there'll be ne 'cation.
Next Captain Starkey teuk his stick,
And myed his final bow;
Aw wonder if he is scribbling yet,
Or what he's efter noo --
Or if he's drinking jills o' yell,
Or asking pennies to buy backy --
If not allow'd where Starkey's gyen,
Aw'm sure that he'll be quite unhappy.
And myed his final bow;
Aw wonder if he is scribbling yet,
Or what he's efter noo --
Or if he's drinking jills o' yell,
Or asking pennies to buy backy --
If not allow'd where Starkey's gyen,
Aw'm sure that he'll be quite unhappy.
Jack Coxon iv a trot went off,
One morning very suen --
Cull Billy said, he'd better stop,
But deeth cried, Jackey, come!
Oh, few like him could lift their heels,
Or tell what halls were in the county,
Like mony a proud, black-coated chield,
Jack lived upon the parish bounty.
One morning very suen --
Cull Billy said, he'd better stop,
But deeth cried, Jackey, come!
Oh, few like him could lift their heels,
Or tell what halls were in the county,
Like mony a proud, black-coated chield,
Jack lived upon the parish bounty.
But cheer up lads, and dinna droop,
Blind Willy's to the fore,
The blythest iv the motley groop,
And fairly worth the score;
O weel aw like to hear him sing,
'Bout aud Sir Mat, an' Dr. Brummel --
If he but lives to see the King,
There is nyen of Willy's friends need grummel.
Blind Willy's to the fore,
The blythest iv the motley groop,
And fairly worth the score;
O weel aw like to hear him sing,
'Bout aud Sir Mat, an' Dr. Brummel --
If he but lives to see the King,
There is nyen of Willy's friends need grummel.
Cull Billy, tee, wor lugs to bliss,
Wiv news about t'other warld,
Aw move that when wor Vicar dees,
The place for him be arl'd;
For aw really think, wiv half his wit,
He'd myek a reet good pulpit knocker,
Aw'll tell ye where the birth wad fit --
He sugs sae close the parish copper.
Wiv news about t'other warld,
Aw move that when wor Vicar dees,
The place for him be arl'd;
For aw really think, wiv half his wit,
He'd myek a reet good pulpit knocker,
Aw'll tell ye where the birth wad fit --
He sugs sae close the parish copper.
Another chep, and then aw's duen, --
He bangs the others far:
Yor mavies wonderin whe aw mean --
Ye gowks, it's Tommy C---r!
When lodgin's scarce just speak to him,
Yor hapless case he'll surely pity,
He'll 'sist upon you gannin' in,
To sup with S---tt, and see the Kitty.
This engraving is taken from an oil painting by Henry Perlee Parker, painted around 1817. The characters were captured in Hell's Kitchen at the Flying Horse in Newcastle's Groat Market. Unfortunately the oil painting is now lost, but this engraving by George Armstrong (published by E. Charnley, a bookseller in the Bigg Market) entitled the 'Eccentric Characters of Newcastle upon Tyne' was issued in 1820.
An index provided with the engraving reveals the identities of these eccentric characters, many of whom were a favourite subject of local song-writes. - 1. Aud Judy -- 2. Jenny Ballo. -- 3. Whin Bob. -- 4. Jacky Coxon. -- 5. Pussy Willy. -- 6. Cull Billy. -- 7. Donald. -- 8. Bugle-Nosed Jack. -- 9. Hangy. 10. Bold Archy. -- 11. Blind Wille. -- 12. Shoe-tie Anty. -- 13. Captain Starkey. -- 14. Doodem Daddum (Dog - Timour).
The portrait forms part of a collection held by Newcastle City Library.
Modern version of 'Hell's Kitchen'
Ronald Sydney Embleton (6 October 1930 – 13 February 1988)
He bangs the others far:
Yor mavies wonderin whe aw mean --
Ye gowks, it's Tommy C---r!
When lodgin's scarce just speak to him,
Yor hapless case he'll surely pity,
He'll 'sist upon you gannin' in,
To sup with S---tt, and see the Kitty.
An index provided with the engraving reveals the identities of these eccentric characters, many of whom were a favourite subject of local song-writes. - 1. Aud Judy -- 2. Jenny Ballo. -- 3. Whin Bob. -- 4. Jacky Coxon. -- 5. Pussy Willy. -- 6. Cull Billy. -- 7. Donald. -- 8. Bugle-Nosed Jack. -- 9. Hangy. 10. Bold Archy. -- 11. Blind Wille. -- 12. Shoe-tie Anty. -- 13. Captain Starkey. -- 14. Doodem Daddum (Dog - Timour).
The portrait forms part of a collection held by Newcastle City Library.
Modern version of 'Hell's Kitchen'
Ronald Sydney Embleton (6 October 1930 – 13 February 1988)
