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The Manchester Ballads

4 Extra Debut. Folk singer Eliza Carthy explores the history and legacy of Manchester's 19th-century 'broadside ballads'. From 2015.

Folk singer Eliza Carthy visits Chetham's Library in Manchester to find out about 19th-century broadside ballads, and to see if she can find a new song to perform.

She is joined by Andrew Biswell, Professor of English at Manchester Metropolitan University, who is an advocate of the cultural value of the ballads, which were printed on a single sheet and sold on the streets of Manchester.

Eliza also meets Michael Powell, Librarian of Chetham's Library, which is one of the oldest public libraries in the English-speaking world, and he tells her more about the collections of ballads there.

Many of the ballads reflect the Irish community in Manchester and she goes to the site of Little Ireland with Professor Brian Maidment to find out more about the conditions there. Eliza also has a go at printing a ballad herself, with help from Graham Moss at the Incline Press in Oldham.

She talks to Jennifer Reid, the self-styled 'pre-eminent broadside balladress of the Manchester region', who has collaborated with the artist Jeremy Deller. Jennifer and Jeremy describe their work on his exhibition at the recent Venice Biennale which includes some of the ballads.

Eliza asks her guests about their favourites then chooses one of her own to sing.

Producer: Nick Holmes

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in October 2015.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Wed 29 Jun 2022 02:30

An image of a nineteenth century broadside ballad seller in Manchester

An image of a nineteenth century broadside ballad seller in Manchester
Courtesy of Chetham’s Library

Part of the broadside ballad Manchester’s an Altered Town

Part of the broadside ballad Manchester’s an Altered Town
Printed by Eliza Carthy on a treadle press at the Incline Press in Oldham.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 5 Oct 2015 16:00
  • Tue 19 Jan 2016 11:30
  • Tue 28 Jun 2022 14:30
  • Wed 29 Jun 2022 02:30

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