Ralph Dowey

Ralph Dowey
Born	October 1844 Backworth
Died	1909 (aged 64–65)
Occupation(s)	songwriter and poet

Ralph Dowey (1844 – 1909) was a Northumberland born miner, songwriter and poet.

Ralph Dowey was born in October 1844 at 42 South Row, West Holywell, a small Colliery village approx. 4 miles west of Whitley Bay, which at the time was in the county of Northumberland. He was a miner by trade, like so many Geordie songwriters

Songwriting was a hobby, and according to Thomas Allan in his Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings won at least 8 prizes for his songs in the various North Eastern songwriting competitions. His works appeared in Frazer’s and Tweed’s Almanacs and the Blyth Weekly News.[1][2]

In 1865 he married Hannah Elizabeth Dowson (b1844) and they had at least 2 children John R (b1869), Mary A (b1877). He died in Gateshead in 1909.

His many works include "The Picnic Day" which was first published in the Blyth Weekly News in 1891 and tells of a family dressing up for a picnic in Morpeth

See also

Geordie dialect words
Thomas Allan
Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings

References

1. "Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings: With Lives, Portraits, and ..." T. & G. Allan. 14 July 1891. Retrieved 14 July 2020 – via Internet Archive.
2. 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

• West Holywell Colliery
• Allan’s Illustrated Edition of Tyneside songs and readings