Victorian society spent much energy getting the music out of pubs and unhealthy settings and into concert venues creating local bands many urban songwriters were publishers like joe wilson with an interest in grinding out songs and selling printed version or men who could no longer work such as tommy armstrong who did composition for commission.
Not a cut and dry line many currents these a few of them.

Then there is the chicken and the egg issue of did the music come from the people into the pubs then into print or the other way around. Most likely some of each. Much of the published music almost reads like a chamber of commerce hand out marketing the eccentricities of the colorful local population which as original characters may have long departed the simple sit in the corner and sing life- for places like music halls and parlor singing. I have been meaning to get back to a good book on the subject of victorian music....must find the title.

Conrad