A New Song on the Preston Guild, 1842. 1842
J. Harkness, Printer, 121, Church Street, Preston.
You lads and lasses far and near,
Unto my song pray lend an ear,
The time is come for mirth and glee,
To Preston Guild let’s haste away,
For Tom and Sal with Jim and Peg,
And daddy with his wooden leg,
And grunting Jack with Sam and Will,
Are all gone off to Preston Guild.
There lords and ladies, Kings and Queens,
At Preston Guild they may be seen,
Yes, Merchants, Tradesmen,—a grand show,
With ladies walking in a row;
And then the trades they do appear,
By gum it makes one feel quite queer,
Some walking,—others standing still,
This is the fun at Preston Guild.
The tailors they lead up the van,
With Adam and Eve they look so grand,
Then Robin Hood’s men and gardeners,
Who represent Mars the God of Wars,
Shopkeepers, Publicans so free,
Will follow up for liberty,
The grandest show in England still,
Is the jublilee at Preston Guild.
The factory folks are next in view,
Spinners, weavers, and carders too,
The piecers do not lag behind,
Brickmakers at the Guild we find,
Bricksetters, masons two and two,
To see them walking in a row,
The men who houses and factories build,
You’ll see them walk at Preston Guild.
When at the Guild you do arrive,
Like bees they’re swarming all alive,
All kinds of trades are working still,
You’ll see, now you’re at Preston Guild.
There’s swinging boxes, likewise shows,
And soldiers ’listing drunken fools,
Both drunkards and teetotallers will,
Enjoy a peep at Preston Guild.
Its toss or buy for cakes or nuts,
Sweet meats or ORMSKIRK, stuff your guts,
Or take a trow at civil will,
Now lads you’ve come to Preston Guild,
Or see the sports that’s up and down,
At Preston Guild in Preston town,
Two shillings a bed pay with good will,
If you stop one night at Preston Guild.
The times are hard, the wages low,
Some thousands to the Guild can’t go,
From Blackburn, Burnley, and Chorley still,
They will roll on to Preston Guild,
From Wigan, Bolton, Lancaster,
From Liverpool and Manchester,
The Railroad brings them on it still,
To see the fun at Preston Guild.
So young and old I’ll tell you true,
It’s different now since twenty-two,
The men did labour with good will,
It’s not so now this Preston Guild.
But let us hope the times will mend,
When the poor man can the poor befriend,
We want our rights and then we will,
Have plenty of sport next Preston Guild.