The Jolly Ringers

Broadside printed with the words of the song 'The Jolly Ringers,' from the comic opera Castles in the Air, composed by Charles Dibdin. The five verses are printed below a woodcut engraving depicting eight young male bell ringers. Printed on July 9th 1794 this was one in a series of broadsides of popular songs published by John Marshall in the 1790s. Charles Dibden (1745-1814) was one of London's most popular and prolific singer songwriters in the late 18th century. His comic operas were regularly performed in London theatres including Salder's Wells, Covent Garden, Drury Lane and the Haymarket. From the 1790s Dibdin performed musical evenings at his own place of entertainment named Sans Souci, originally located in the Strand and then in Leicester Place.

Songsheets printed with the words of popular songs were primarily sold to theatre goers to enable them to sing along during the performance. Printed by small back street printers primarily based in the Seven Dials area of London they could be purchased outside the theatre from hawkers trading on London's streets.