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Description: | The rise of shipbuilding on the Tyne during the nineteenth century had created thousands of skilled oarsmen. This created much rivalry between the boatmen on the Tyne and those of the River Thames and professional rowing events had become a common event on the Tyne by the mid nineteenth century. Many rowers such as Harry Clasper, Robert Chambers, and James Renforth achieved national fame and were immortalised in local songs and poems. This song refers to the death of famous Tyneside rower, James Renforth. Renforth's career was short and tragic. Between 1868 and 1871 Renforth won 39 races before he collapsed and died over his oars in Canada in 1871.This song was written by Rowland Harrison and printed some time in the 1860s. Harrison was born in King William Street, Gateshead, on 23rd June 1841. From the age of 23 he found success as an author and comic singer, appearing at a number of music halls throughout the North East. Known for his talents at character portrayal, Harrison went on to manage the Geordy Black pub in Gateshead, the Commercial Hotel at Winlaton, and various music halls. It is not known when Rowland Harrison died but references in Allan's Tyneside songs indicate that he outlived Joe Wilson, Ned Corvan and other contemporaries by a number of years.'Deeth of Renforth' forms part of a small song book issued by an unidentified publisher. It contains over 50 pages of local songs composed by Harrison, and contains an interesting illustration of the author as 'Geordy Black' in his famous song of the same name. The latest reference in the book dates its publication to around 1871. ; A collection of songs composed by Rowland Harrison. | Publisher: | unknown | Rights holder: | rights holder : Newcastle University | Subjects: | rowing & sport entertainment and sport Leisure | Temporal: | start=1861;end=1900; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:B0303301 | Go to resource |
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