Durkin, William

Singer

Collection date: Aug 1905

Area: Somerset - Hambridge surrounds

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William Durkin: 5 songs including versions of 'Barbara Allen' and 'Seventeen come Sunday' (FT610ff): Sharp met Durkin in Ilminster at its fair on 30 Aug 1905. Durkin was probably the 'ballad hawker' referred to by Sharp in his lecture 14/12/1905 to the London Institution (ref CJS1/5/5). Sharp said that he met the hawker during an eclipse of the sun which occurred that day - met him in a wash house at a public house. Ilminster was on the main coaching route between London and Exeter and had 15 pubs or beer retailers according to Kelly's Directory 1914.