Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS

Subject: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: Grimmy
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 07:22 AM

Does anyone know if the online Bodleian collection contains ALL the Harkness broadsides, or just a subset?

I'm being lazy actually cos the library here in Preston (where John Harkness worked) has the collection on CD. Trouble is I have to reserve a PC in order to view it, which is a pain. I won't need to do that if the Bodleian has the full set. Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 11:30 AM

I don't think that the Bodleian actually claim to have the whole collection of the Harkness ballads, although they certainly have a large selection. There are some gaps in the numbered series among the Bodleian's collection (though its possible that not all of the numbers were actually published in the first place). Some of the sheets are not numbered, although they might still be part of the series.

However the Preston Harris Library say only that they possess "many" of the broadsides printed by Harkness; while the Madden collection claims to hold "the almost complete numbered series of the Preston printer, Harkness".

In short I don't know if any single institution holds all of Harkness's output.

If you are cataloguing Harkness I'd love to see more of his version of Barbara Allen which apparently begins "In Liverpool town, where I was born...".

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: Grimmy
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:28 PM

Thanks for that Matthew. I went to the library earlier today and, although I didn't see the collection itself, the index states merely that it contains "several hundred (Harkness) broadsides".

I'll bite the bullet and reserve a PC for half a day sometime soon. I'll be happy to look up Barbara Allen for you.

I'm also interested in finding out more about the man himself. Although born in Carlisle in 1817, Harkness spent most of his life here in Preston, but there's almost no biographical info about him at all. He deserves a bloody statue - as it is no-one is even sure when he died (sometime between 1885 and 1890).

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:56 PM

Good luck with your searches, Grimmy. I'm interested in some Liverpool broadside printers and here too biographical information is extremely scarce. I'd agree that John Harkness deserves some greater recognition.

The Roud Broadside Ballad Index at the VWML Online shows 2170 entries for Harkness under 'Printer'. As the Roud Index omits the Bodleian catalogue it should (theoretically!) be possible to compile a nearly complete index of Harkness's broadsides between the two. However there are still a number of collections out there which have yet to be fully catalogued and indexed - there is a good collection in Liverpool Central Library, for instance.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: Grimmy
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 01:18 PM

Right then. I'd better make a start!

If there's a comprehensive index of the Preston Harkness, then I'll make a copy. If there isn't, then I'll compile one. We can then compare with the other collections. This could be the start of something big!

Cheers Matthew, I'll keep you informed.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 27 Apr 23 - 02:03 PM

Preston Markets Monday 01 May 2023 to Saturday 15 July 2023

Here at Preston Markets we are displaying 16 reproductions of ballad sheets printed in Preston by John Harkness. The display contains 30 songs which are rare survivors as they were printed on fragile paper, and give us a fascinating glimpse into street culture in Preston more than 150 years ago. Harkness began printing the ballads in around 1842 and carried on until at least 1896. He was based in a number of premises in Preston including 8 Water Street (now Manchester Road) and 121 Church Street. The Ballads were published in Preston but also sent for sale in places like Carlisle, Liverpool and London.

The whole Harkness collection is made up of more than 1000 Victorian street ballads, all printed in Preston. At the time, these poems and songs were a cheap way to spread information and provide amusement to the people of Preston and further afield. They cover a wide range of subjects including comic tales, love stories, tragedies, brief histories and songs about Preston. The ballads mention some Preston places such as the gaol, Preston Guild and Preston Races. This exhibition that returns the songs to the streets has been curated by second year UCLan students doing a Community History module.

There will also be a Preston Street Songs Performance by Jennifer Reid on 10 June at Preston Markets from 2pm.


According to Dave Moran on the goldilox website; http://www.goldilox.co.uk/engfolk/frames/nicjones4.htm

"Nic [Jones] and I and mandolin/guitar player Nigel Patterson made up the Halliard. We were looking to develop some new music and we took the advice of song-writer Leslie Shepard. We decided to add tunes to Broadsides that we discovered, uncovered or collected – we checked out the Harkness Collection at Preston and the collections in Manchester etc.

We also used Ashton's Street Ballads and Victorian Street Ballads (Henderson) and on a couple of occasions we dipped into Thomas D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy; that is where we found Mad Maudlin (Tom of Bedlam or the Boys of Bedlam).

Nic and I wrote all the tunes together, usually sitting in the front of the Mini and singing and working out tunes as we drove – as the mandolin was the smallest instrument and Nigel [Patterson] was in the back, he always played the tunes. 'Jones and Moran' wrote a heap of songs like this including Lancashire Lads, Going for a Soldier Jenny, Miles Weatherhill, Calico Printer's Clerk etc.

Songs found by The Halliard in the Harkness Collection include The Calico Printer's Clerk and The Warlike Lads of Russia.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 27 Apr 23 - 02:16 PM

The Harris has joined forces with Preston Markets and students from The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) to curate this 'Harris in the City' exhibition which showcases a sample of ballads originally printed and published in the 1800s by Preston printer, John Harkness, and will include a live singing performance. All of the ballads have been digitised by Lancashire Archives and catalogued by Harris volunteers as part of the wider Harkness project that partners The Harris, UCLan and Lancashire Archives. This catalogue will be made available online soon as a research tool for anyone with an interest in local history.

This exhibition forms part of The Harris outreach programme, creating opportunities for the public to enjoy The Harris' diverse collections whilst the building undergoes extensive refurbishment. This opportunity to return the songs to the streets has been curated by second year UCLan history and international students who are doing a Community History module, where students work with industry partners such as curators from The Harris, to develop live projects and gain real-world experience.

The module builds on the UCLan History team's long-standing commitment to working with local and regional groups and organisations interested in exploring the past. The Harkness ballads will be available to view from Tuesday 2 May 2023 at the Earl Street entrance to Preston Market Hall from 8am until 5pm Monday to Saturday, until mid-July. There will be a live performance of a selection of ballads by singer Jennifer Reid, within the Market Hall from 2pm on Saturday 10 June.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Apr 23 - 08:13 AM

Gregg Butler has done extensive research on the Harkness sheets and he made a list of all the Harkness printings available in all collections at that time, using the stock numbers. I may have a copy somewhere but I'm pretty sure he would have left a copy with the Preston collection.

Calico Printer's Clerk was of course written by Harry Clifton in the 1860s and there are threads on here which detail its history.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 29 Sep 23 - 08:06 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1JyCWQVrBw Harkness

You may even spot Gregg Butler!

But the collection doesn't seem to be on line just yet.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 30 Sep 23 - 07:06 AM

I'm told that the Madden Collection of Cambridge University Library holds the greatest number of Harkness broadsides.

But I don't know if they are accessible on line.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 01 Oct 23 - 02:43 PM

I believe that the Madden Collection is almost if not entirely comprehensive for Harkness. Many Universities would have the collection on microfilm.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 29 Sep 23 - 08:06 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1JyCWQVrBw Harkness

You may even spot Gregg Butler!

But the collection doesn't seem to be on line just yet.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 30 Sep 23 - 07:06 AM

I'm told that the Madden Collection of Cambridge University Library holds the greatest number of Harkness broadsides.

But I don't know if they are accessible on line.

Subject: RE: Bodleian Broadsides - Harkness MS
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 01 Oct 23 - 02:43 PM

I believe that the Madden Collection is almost if not entirely comprehensive for Harkness. Many Universities would have the collection on microfilm.