Thomas Chatterton Manuscript Project
Chatterton's First Rowley Work
"The Mayor's first Passing over the Old Bridge,
Taken from an old Manuscript"
by Dunhelmus Bristoliensis*
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See also the Control Page for this work : View
Lambert's Office, Corne St.
Millerd's Map of Bristol 1671
Chatterton was serving his apprenticeship at Lambert's office on Corne Street (these days known as Corn St). It is shown above on Millerd's map from 'F' to 'E' (the left arm of the crossroads). The Old Bristol Bridge can be seen at the bottom of the map, complete with houses and workshops. The replacement of such an important bridge, in 1768, was a major event in Bristol, and inspired Chatterton to write what became his first published Rowlean Work.
*Dunhelmus Bristoliensis was one of Chatterton's pen names.
It was also used by Catcott when trying to manipulate the press.
It's a momentous occasion for Chatterton; the first time in print of one of his Rowley works. It was published anonymously, 1st October 1768, in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal.
Bristol Bridge in Olden Times
Bristol Bridge Rebuilt 1768
​The original manuscript of The Mayor's First Passing over the Old Bridge, included two 'Songes,' which the Bristol Journal chose not to include. I am guessing that lack of space was the problem. I have rectified the omission with handwritten transcripts by Catcott of the two 'Songes.' Click the image above to go to the Control Page for The Mayor's First Passing...., which includes the Songe of Saincte Werburgh, and the Songe of Sayncte Baldwyn. I will include copies of Chatterton's originals in due course (I don't have them at the moment).
The Mayor's First Passing Over the Old Bridge
Early Handwritten Transcript
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My copy of 'Poems Supposed to have been written at Bristol...by Thomas Rowley,' 1794, contains an early manuscript copy of a Description of the Mayor's first Passing over the old bridge, which is tipped in and also written directly on to the blank pages : View
Chatterton meets Catcott & Barrett
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The Bridge story was to bring Chatterton, Catcott, & Barrett, the main players in the Chatterton-Rowley story, together for the first time. It was the catalyst that would affect their lives more than they could have imagined. When they first met, Chatterton was not yet 16, Barrett was 35, and Catcott was 39.
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The question is, how much of a role did they individually or jointly play in the creation and development of the Rowley phenomenon? To read more on this subject, see Biographies of Chatterton : View