Description:A collection of four LOYAL CHESHIRE SONGS.
The songs are political in nature and are entitled;
RULE BRITANNIA
With modified verses.
GOD SAVE THE KING
With modified verses.
CEASE YOUR FUNNING
With modified verses.
CASTLE RISING
To the tune or 'air' Cherry Ripe.
Broadside ballads
Broadsides or broadsheets were a popular way of distributing and publishing songs.
It was a practice that had been growing in popularity since the birth of the printing press in the 1500s and carried on until the early 1900s.
These ballads covered many different subjects including romance, nationalism, famous individuals, current affairs and, in this case, politics.
Ballad singing was not only used as a form of entertainment. In this period there was a high level of illiteracy amongst the working classes. Ballad singing became a good way to spread news, ideas or propaganda.
Broadsides were often sold by street hawkers who would also sing the songs.
About this document
This document was collected by Burslem pottery manufacturer Enoch Wood and is now among the collections of Stoke-on-Trent Museums.