(Born in Salford in December, 1816; Died in Long Millgate,
Manchester, September 11th, 1881.)
I
A genuine lover of all rural life,
Fitted, methinks, with dryads well to mate,
In city close pent up, was a hard fate
For such a sylvan soul. How much at strife
Were inclination and the pressing need 5
Of earning bread! Well loved he the green fields
And wildflowers gay; songs such as the throstle yields
Singing uncaged: each tree, bush, herb, and weed;
The whimpling brooks; the mountains, and the dales,
All charm’d him with their beauty: but instead 10
Of a bucolic life, the one he led
Was that pent up where Commerce closely jails
Her slaves as prisoners. Yet, even there,
His gentle heart ne’er bow’d down to Despair.
II
’T is not alone on banks of bosky streams— 15
In dells or woodlands—by old Ocean’s shore—
On the hill tops—on battle-fields of yore—
Or where some ruin’d castle or abbey gleams
In beauty, lit by Sol’s or Luna’s beams—
That Poësy is found. 20
’T is true that these to her are hallow’d ground;
But where’er human hearts beat, there she deems
Is her fit dwelling-place. My dear friend knew
That not one street of Manchester but teems
With history and romance, beyond the dreams 25
Of all her gifted bards,—and so he drew
These unto him, till he became, perchance,
The only man to give them fitting utterance.
George Markham Tweddell
Protor writes about many of the poets that GM Tweddell knew in his Manchester book - John Critchley Prince, James Montgomery, Rogerson etc.
From http://www.mancuniensis.info/Chronology/Chronology1881FPX.htm"11th. September Sunday
Mr. Richard Wright Procter, barber and author, died at his residence, Long Millgate, on September 11. He was born in Salford on December 19, 1816, and at ten years of age was apprenticed to a barber. In this business he remained all his life. In 1840 he endeavoured to improve his income by establishing a circulating library in the house in which he lived. His first attempts in authorship were some verses which he sent to the Manchester and Salford Advertiser under the assumed name of "Sylvan." In 1855 he issued a volume named Gems of Thought and Flowers of Fancy, and shortly afterwards a book of much pure humour entitled The Barber's Shop. In 1860 appeared his Literary Reminiscences; in 1862, Our Turf, Stage, and Ring; in 1866, Manchester in Holiday Dress; in 1874, Manchester Streets; and in 1880, Bygone Manchester. His quiet and kindly disposition won him deserved respect. There is a biographical sketch of him by Mr. W. E. A. Axon prefixed to the second and posthumous edition of the Barber's Shop."
Memorials of Manchester Streets,' 1874 can be downloaded or read on line here -
Poet's Corner Manchester
From Wiki - here - http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Procter,_Richard_Wright_(DNB00)
"PROCTER, RICHARD WRIGHT (1816-1881), author, son of Thomas Procter, was bom of poor parents in Paradise Vale, Salford, Lancashire, on 19 Dec. 1816. When very young he bought books and sent poetical contributions to the local press. In due time he set up in business for himself as a barber—the trade to which he had been apprenticed—in Long-Millgate, Manchester. Part of the shop was used by him for a cheap circulating library. In this dismal city street he remained to the end of his days. When his shyness was overcome, he was found to be, like his books, full of geniality, curious information, and gentle humour. In 1842 he was associated with Bamford, Prince, Rogerson, and other local poets in some interesting meetings held at an inn, afterwards styled the 'Poet's Corner,' and he contributed to a volume of verse entitled 'Festive Wreath,' which was an outcome of these gatherings. He also had some pieces in the 'City Muse,' edited by William Reid, 1853. He died at 133 Long-Millgate, Manchester, on 11 Sept. 1881, and was buried at St. Luke's, Cheetham Hill. He married, in 1840, Eliza Waddington, who predeceased him, and left five sons.
He published:
'Gems of Thought and Flowers of Fancy,' 1855, 12mo; a volume of poetical selections, of which the first and last pieces are by himself.
'The Barber's Shop, with illustrations by William Morton,' 1856,8vo; containing admirably written sketches of the odd characters he met. A second edition incorporated much lore relating to hairdressing and to notable barbers, published, with a memoir by W. E. A. Axon, 1883.
'Literary Reminiscences and Gleaning with Illustrations,' 1860, 8vo; devoted chiefly to Lancashire poets.
'Our Turf, our Stage, and our Ring,' 1862, 8vo; being historical sketches of racing and sporting life in Manchester.
'Manchester in Holiday Dress,' 1866, 8vo; notices of theatres and other amusements in Manchester, prior to 1810.
'Memorials of Manchester Streets,' 1874, 8vo and 4to.
'Memorials of Bygone Manchester, with Glimpses of the Environs,' 1880, 4to."
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