The Keel
Row
Thinking about the Kiel Canal brought to mind the song, ‘The Keel Row,’ only because Kiel and Keel rhyme! As with most folk songs, there are variations.
https://youtu.be/qZ8u1ZE-reo?si=K4q7Tg8YnvL8OzA6
As I came thro' Sandgate,
Thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate,
As I came thro' Sandgate,
I heard a lassie sing:
"O, weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
O weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in.
He wears a blue bonnet,
Blue bonnet, blue bonnet,
He wears a blue bonnet
A dimple in his chin.
And weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
And weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in.
‘The Keel Row’ is a traditional folksong based on the work of the keelmen of Newcastle upon Tyne. Keels were flat-bottomed boats, which carried coal from the shallow banks of the river to small wooden coal-carrying ships called colliers. The colliers waited in the Tyne to transport the coal down the east coast to London.
Each keel carried a skipper, two crewmen called ‘bullies’ and a boy. ‘Bully’ meant brother or comrade.
The keel row was a huge oar used to propel the boat and was manned by the bullies and the boy. In lieu of a rudder, a ‘swape’ or steering oar at the stern determined the direction of travel. Presumably, the skipper worked this oar.
The life of the keelmen was hard. They had to load the coal, row the heavily laden keel to the collier, navigating the currents and the shifting sandbanks, and unload it. That was made more difficult because the keel lay lower in the water than the collier. In addition, the men were exposed daily to coal dust, often resulting in respiratory problems.
The job was passed from generation to generation, sons taking over from their fathers when they were thought strong enough. Most men were unable to continue working after their forties because of the arduous nature of the labour.
In 1702, the keelmen built the Keelmen’s Hospital in Sandgate, an almshouse for sick and ailing keelmen and their families. It was supported by contributions from each keel’s crew.
No wonder keelmen had to stop working early - the heavy loads would have damaged the back and joints, and the lungs would have been damaged by breathing the coal-laden air.
ReplyDeleteThankfully Keelmen’s Hospital/almshouse was opened in Sandgate for the sick workers but unfortunately fathers had to put their own sons into the same terrible conditions.
They were hard drinking, hardworking, tough men.
DeleteIn my head, I can hear the wonderful Kathleen Ferrier singing this. xx
ReplyDeleteShe had a phenomenal voice.
DeleteJust about the best contralto ever and such feeling and emotion too.
Deletexx
I see that this fine building is no longer in use. Such a shame to lose it.
ReplyDeleteNo-one wants to buy it. Too much upkeep, probably.
DeleteFolk songs have never been my cup of tea, but what you wrote about the keelmen was very interesting. What a hard work ! I think today nobody would do that !
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the equivalent work would be today.
DeleteI've known this song since being little, as it is in a community songbook I still have, from which my dad used to sing, and me and my brother joined. Billy Boy is a similar song. But I didn't know the background.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very jaunty tune.
DeleteI've heard of keelmen but I never knew what their job actually was. I do now. I know Sandgate, not far from the the city area of Newcastle.
ReplyDeleteIs it still a poor area?
DeleteInteresting post. I really like the lettering on the cornerstone especially the long S, the letter that looks like an F. I always knew the long S used for the double s sound. pass, class, but never knew it was used for the single s as in hospital.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it took up less room on inscriptions, though it doesn't appear so.
ReplyDeleteNone of it is familiar to me but I learned a lot from your interesting informative post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt's Judee from Gluten-Free A-Z Blog in the above anonymous post
DeleteThank you, Judee.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this post. It's lovely to learn a bit of history.
ReplyDeleteI agree - whether I'll remember it is anyone's guess!
DeleteLike Sharon above, I too enjoyed reading this post.
ReplyDeleteI believe Newcastle city Council, the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust (TWBPT), and Historic England are now joining forces to try and find a realistic way to breathe new life into the prominent feature (Keelman's Hospital) that has stood overlooking the Quayside for centuries. The three organisations say they will pay for a new viability study to explore how the building, in City Road, could be turned into affordable housing.
I'm sure many would welcome this suggestion.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-council-save-keelmens-hospital-28640774
All the best Jan
That's good to hear. It was used as student accommodation for a while, but a more sustainable alternative that would actually help the residents of Newcastle would be preferable.
DeleteI know this song but I can't remember how I learned it - I was very young, I think. And I also think I learned a different version of the lyrics. Interesting post and rather sad, isn't it.
ReplyDeleteIt is rather sad, but people have always sung about their lives, good, bad or indifferent.
DeleteI learnt it when young, too.
I'd never heard of the keelmen or this song, so thank you for another history lesson, Janice! xxx
ReplyDeleteI learn much more from your blog, Ann:-)
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