The Ballad Walk of St Giles and Seven Dials, presented by Elena Paolini and sung by Vivien Ellis.

This recording was produced by Bloomsbury Festival on the route of the Ballad walk from St Giles-in-the-Fields Church and around Seven Dials. The walk was created by Vivien Ellis and Camden Guides, as part of the heritage project - Strange Doings in London - the Songs and Ballads of St Giles, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Chapter 1: THE BOWL OF ST GILES

Location: Opposite The Angel pub, St Giles High Street, London

THE BOWL OF ST GILES is a broadside ballad printed in Seven Dials around 1840, and held at the Bodleian Library, Oxford,

Chapter 2: THE WONDERFUL PILLS or a CURE FOR THE WORLD Location: Denmark Street, London THE WONDERFUL PILLS is a Broadside ballad printed by Thomas Birt, at Seven Dials. It was written by John Morgan, who was active between 1842-1855 It is held at the John Rylands Library at the University of Manchester.

Chapter 3: LONDON’S LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US ‘A true relation of seven modern plagues or visitations in London’ Location: The Resurrection Gate, at the church of St Giles-in-the-Fields, London LONDON’S LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US is a broadside printed in Edinburgh in 1665, and now held in the Rare Books department of the National Library of Scotland.

Chapter 4: THE CHARTISTS ARE COMING Location: Seven Dials, London THE CHARTISTS ARE COMING is a Broadside ballad printed in Seven Dials, c.1848.

Location: Seven Dials, London

Chapter 5: MUZZY TANDY

Location: The Crown, Seven Dials, London 2

.MUZZY TANDY is a Broadside ballad printed in Seven Dials in the 1800’s. There are copies in the Madden ballad collection, Cambridge University, and the Broadside ballad collection at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Chapter 6: LAST FAREWELL TO POOR ST GILES Location: Nottingham Court, Shorts Gardens, London LAST FAREWELL TO POOR ST GILES is a Broadside ballad printed in Seven Dials, mid 1800’s. It is part of the broadside ballad collection at the Bodleian Library, Oxford

Chapter 7: THE WORKHOUSE CRUELTY Location: Site of St Giles Parish Workhouse, at Dudley Court, near the junction with Short's Gardens, Endell Street, London.

THE WORKHOUSE CRUELTY was printed for Christan Love-Poor, near St Giles’s Church, in 1730.

It is held at the The British Library

Chapter 8: THE ARTFUL DODGER Location: The Phoenix Garden, London THE ARTFUL DODGER was written by Charles Sloman and Sam Cowell, with music arranged by Fred Bridgeman, possibly in the early 1850’s.

It is part of the Miller Collection of printed music at the Dickens Museum in London.

The Dickens Ballad Walk is presented by David Lloyd and sung by Vivien Ellis.

This recording was produced by Bloomsbury Festival at Holy Cross Church, Cromer Street, and follows the route of the Dickens Ballad walk created by Vivien Ellis and Camden Guides, as part of the heritage project - Strange Doings in London - the Songs and Ballads of St Giles, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Chapter 1: The Artful Dodger

Location: The Dickens Museum, Doughty Street, London The Artful Dodger is a song written by Charles Sloman and Sam Cowell, arranged by Fred Bridgeman, and is from The Miller Collection of printed music at The Dickens Museum.

Chapter 2: The Devil and the Hackney Coachman

Location: Doughty Mews, London The Devil and the Hackney Coachman is a ballad printed by Thomas Birt at Seven Dials, and is held at Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre, Holborn Library.

Chapter 3: Poor Jo

Location: Coram Fields, London Poor Jo, is a song dedicated to Miss Jenny Lee, and was written by H.B.Farnie and composed by C.H.R. Marriott, and is from The Miller Collection of printed music at The Dickens Museum.

Chapter 4: The Fine Old English Gentleman

Location: Mecklenburgh Square, London The Fine Old English Gentleman, a satirical ballad written by Charles Dickens, was published in the Liberal journal The Examiner in August 1841

Chapter 5: Little Nell Location: St George’s Gardens, London Little Nell is a song written by George Linley, and is from The Miller Collection of printed music at The Dickens Museum.

Chapter 6: The Poor Italian Boy

Location: St George’s Gardens, London The Poor Italian Boy is broadside ballad printed in Seven Dials

Chapter 7: Eliza Fenning

Location: St George’s Gardens, London ‘Lines on the Death of Eliza Fenning’ is a Broadside ballad printed by John Pitts at Seven Dials, and is part of the Madden Collection, at Cambridge University Library.

Chapter 8: Dolly Varden

Location: Brunswick Square, London Dolly Varden is a song written by Cotsford Dick, and is from the Miller Collection of Sheet Music, Dickens Museum.

Chapter 9: Foundling Hymn

Location: The Foundling Museum, London The Foundling Hymn is from the Foundling Chapel Hymn Book, 1774, held at Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre, Holborn Library.

The Bloomsbury Institute’s Bloomsbury Radio reporter interviewed Sophie Wilson about the exhibition of historic artworks and street songs created by a group of artists, with the support of City Lit and artist Dryden Goodwin.

Presented by Bloomsbury Festival as part of the Strange Doings in London Heritage project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Read more about this project ⁠here⁠.

The Bloomsbury Institute’s Bloomsbury Radio reporter interviewed Emma Ridgway, CEO and Artistic Director of the Foundling Museum about Bloomsbury Festival's programme and events.

The Bloomsbury Institute’s Bloomsbury Radio reporter interviewed Patricia Hammond and William Summers about Dickensian Song and Dance Club, a lively event of music, dance and costume at Conway Hall.

The Bloomsbury Institute’s Bloomsbury Radio reporter interviewed  Eve Edwards and Shira Jindal (University College London) about 'See It. Say It. Sorted. The Musical – Crossroad Production' part of the New Wave Theatre programme.

The Bloomsbury Institute’s Bloomsbury Radio reporter interviewed Anne John-Ligal about her creative writing workshop at Holborn Library.

The Bloomsbury Institute’s Bloomsbury Radio reporter, Franky performs spoken word poetry in response to the theme for Bloomsbury Festival 2025, The Paths We Tread.

The Bloomsbury Institute’s Bloomsbury Radio reporter interviewed Alastair Creamer and Max Parfitt about 26 Writers' annual Wordstock festival, showcased at Conway Hall.

The Bloomsbury Institute’s Bloomsbury Radio reporter interviewed Vyte Garriga about (Play)writing – her creative writing workshop exploring unconventional ways to begin writing, surprise yourself, and connect body and mind in the creative process.