The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #110248   Message #2804757
Posted By: Mick Pearce (MCP)
06-Jan-10 - 07:36 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Belle of Barking Creek (Paddy Roberts
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Belle of Barking Creek.
According to Partridge's historical slang to have been to Barking Creek meant to have a bad cough (ca 1820-50). And this is a variation on Barkshire (=Ireland, Barks =the Irish) - A member or candidate for Barkshire - said of one troubled with a cough, vulgarly styled barking.

Mick