Henry Robson (songwriter)

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Henry Robson (c1775-1850) was a Tyneside concert hall song writer and performer in the late 18th and early 19th century. His best known song was probably “The Collier's Pay Week”.

Early life

Henry Robson was born c1775 at Benwell, near Newcastle, Northumberland

(He still resided in Newcastle in 1812 according to John Bell in his notes in “Rhymes of Northern Bards”)

He worked as a printer for Mackenzie and Dent (who also printed the works of Bell) and also had his own small business, working at home, where he had a small press

Later life

In his later years he appears to have written little.

Henry Robson died on 21 December 1850 at his home in Grenville Terrace (just behind City Road and about in line with the Gateshead Millennium Bridge nicknamed “The Blinking Eye Bridge”), Newcastle at the age of 75.

His Obituary read - "he had worked 60 years as a printer, was the oldest member of the profession in the town, and was much respected by a numerous circle of friends."

Works

These include :-

Collier's Pay Week (The) - from the collection "The Songs of the Tyne, being a collection of popular local songs. No.8", published by John Ross, Royal Arcade, Newcastle upon Tyne - The song describes life at Benwell in the early 19th century
Ca' Hawkie through the watter - published c1810 - It is a well-known song, and one manuscript dated c 1820, and of a longer than normal version, is written in Robson's handwriting, but this may have been his writing down of the material for safe keeping
Gateshead Fell
Northern minstrel's budget - published c1849
Pitman's Pay
Sandgate Lassie’s Lament (The) – to the tune of The Bonny Pit Laddie
Sandgate wife's nurse song - published c1849, a song to be sung to baby while awaiting the return of the keelman husband
Spring (The) - Written the beginning of May 1809
Till the tide came in - written c1827, published c1837-1841, a song about waiting for the tide
Tyne (The)

The introductory set of verses in the volume on "Northumberland Minstrelsy," signed H. R., in all probability are also Robson's^[1]^[2]

References

↑ "Allan’s Illustrated Edition of Tyneside songs and readings".
↑ Allan’s Illustrated Edition of Tyneside songs and readings with lives, portraits and autographs of the writers, and notes on the songs. Revised Edition. Thomas & Gorge Allan, 18 Blackett Street, and 34 Collingwood Street, (Newcastle upon Tyne) – Sold by W. Allan, 80 Grainqer Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, B. Allan, North Shields and Walter Scott. London. 1891.

External links

Persondata
Name	Robson, Henry
Alternative names
Short description	British songwriter
Date of birth	c1775
Place of birth	Benwell
Date of death	21-12-1850
Place of death	Grenville Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne

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