Edwin Waugh History by Alan Southworth

Edwin Waugh History

by Alan Southworth

Edwin Waugh was born in Rochdale, Lancashire in 1817, he was the son of a shoemaker and after some schooling, was apprenticed to a printer, Thomas Holden, at the age of twelve. Waugh read eagerly, and in 1847 became assistant secretary to the Lancashire Public School Association and went to work in Manchester. By 1860 he was able to become a full-time writer, but in 1881 he was in poor health and was granted a civil List pension of £90 p.a. Throughout his writing career, Waugh was passionate about Lancashire dialect and wrote and composed many poems, many of which were penned during his wanderings on the moors above his hometown.

Here is one of my favourites: I've Worn My Bits o' Shoon Away I've worn my bits o' shoon away,

Wi' Rovin' up an' deawn, To see yon moorlan' valleys, an' Yon little country teawn: The dule tak' shoon an' stockin's too!

My heart feels hutchin'-fain; An', if I trudge it bar-fuut, lads,

I'll see yon teawn again!

It's what care I for cities grand,—

We never shall agree; I'd rayther live where Th' layrock sings,—

A country teawn for me! A country teawn, where one can meet

Wi' friends an' neighbours known; Where one can lounge i'th market-place

An' see the meadows mown. Yon moorlan' hills are bloomin' wild At th' endin' o' July; Yon woodlan' cloofs, an valleys green,— The sweetest under th' sky; Yon dainty rindles, dancin' deawn

Fro' th' meawntains into th' plain;— As soon as th' new moon rises, lads, I'm off to th' moors again!

There's hearty lads among yon hills,

An' in yon country teawn; They'n far moor sense than prouder folk,—

I'll uphold it for a creawn; They're wick an' warm at wark an' fun,

Wherever they may go,— The primest breed o' Iads i'th world,— Good luck attend 'em o'!

Last neet I laft the city thrung,

An' climbed yon hillock green; An' turned my face to th' moorlan' hills,

Wi' th' wayter i' my e'en; Wi' th' wayter wellin i' my e'en;—

I'll bundle up, an go, An' I'll live an' dee i' my own countrie,

Where the moorlan' breezes blow!

(The text and book image were taken from Waugh's Poems and Songs published by John Heywood and edited by George Milner.)

Glossary for those unfamiliar with the Lancashire dialect:

SHOON SHOES DEAWN DOWN HUTCHIN'-FAIN VERY WEARY BAR-FUT BARE FOOT LAYROCK LARK CLOOF WOODED RINDLE SMALL STREAM OR BROOK WARK WORK CREAWN CROWN

I am a retired engineer and professional woodturner from Lancashire, England. I have an interest in all things wood, therefore, trees, mainly our indigenous native trees. I am a member of the woodland Trust and am a volunteer photographer for the trust. My interests are varied and include hillwalking, cycling and I was a Martial Arts student and instructor for over fifty years. I also play acoustic Guitar and ukulele, badly, I may add, my musical interests are also varied and range from English and Irish folk, through to Classical. I also have an interest in Lancashire dialect writing and poems.