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Description: | Song written in memory of a Gateshead character, who seemed to have an ear for gossip. The subject of the song was in fact one Charles Ritchie, a stone mason who lived on Gateshead Fell. Known as a kind-hearted man, Ritchie was in the habit of amusing his neighbours over a 'pot of beer' with the latest gossip or local tale. In particular he was found of passing on the latest news that he'd picked up in the town, at the Bee Hive public house on the Sandhill, or at the Three Bull's Heads in the Castlegarth.This song forms part of a song book by Gateshead composer, Thomas Wilson. 'The pitman's pay' was originally printed in Mitchell's magazine for the years 1826, 1828, and 1830, and was then republished by Gateshead printer George Watson. This particular edition was printed in 1872, some 14 years after the author's death, with the addition of various other poems by the author.Thomas Wilson, was born at Low Fell, Gateshead, on 14th November, 1773. Beginning his working life as a trapper boy in the local pit, Wilson educated himself to a high standard, becoming schoolmaster at an early age. After moving to a clerkship on Newcastle's Quayside Wilson continued his success and formed the famous Tyneside company Losh, Wilson and Bell. In 1826, the first part of his famous song 'The pitman's pay' was published, with subsequent parts appearing over the next two years. Thomas Wilson went on to write a number of other pieces and died aged eighty-five, on 9th May, 1858. ; Collection of songs by Thomas Wilson | Publisher: | George Routledge and Sons Ludgate ; London | Rights holder: | rights holder : Gateshead Council | Subjects: | characters & gossip local characters and strange events | Temporal: | start=1861;end=1900; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:G0817401 | Go to resource |
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