Bar240 [Synopsis] 

Suggested tune  [240Notation]

Once on a time this good old town was nothing but a village, [Note 240.1]
Of husbandry and farmer too, whose time was spent in tillage;
But things are altered very much, such building new allotted is,
It rivals far and soon will leave behind the great Metropolis
O dear O, Manchester's an altered town, O dear O.

Once on a time were you inclined, your weary limbs to lave, sir,
Iin summer's scorching heat in the Irwell's cooling wave, sir;
You had only got to go to the Old Church for the shore, sir,
Bit since those days the fish have died, and now they are no more, sir. [Note 240.2]

When things do change you ne'er do know what next is sure to follow,
For mark the change in Broughton now, of late 'twas bit a hollow
For they have found it son snug, and changed its etymology,
They have clapt in it a wild beast's show, now call'd the Gardens of Zoology. [Note 240.3]

The market on Shudhill was, and it remains there still, sir,
The Salford old bridge is taken away, and clapt a new one in, sir [Note 240.4]
There's Newton Lane I now shall name, has had an alteration
They've knocked a great part of it down to make a railway station [Note 240.5]

There's the Bolton Railway station, in Salford, give attention 
Besides many more, too numerous to mention. [Note 240.6]
Besides a new police, to put the old ones down the stairs, sir
A mayor and corporation to govern the old town, sir. [Note 240.7]

There's Manchester and Salford old bridge, that long has stood the weather,
Because it was so very old, they down'd it altogether;
And Brown-Street market too, it forms part of this sonnet,
Down it must come, they say, to build a borough gaol upon it. [Note 240.8]

Not so long ago if you had taken a walk thro' Stevenson's square, sir,
You would have seen, if you had look'd, a kind of chapel there, sir,
And yet this place, some people thought, had better to come down sir
And in the parson's place they put a pantaloon¹ and clown², sir. [Note 240.9]

In former times our cotton swells were not so mighty found, sir,
But in these modern times they everywhere abound, sir, [Note 240.10]
With the new police and watchmen, to break peace there's none dare, sir,
And at every step the ladie go, policemen will cry, move on there, sir.

In former days this good old town was guarded from the prigs¹, sir,
By day constable, by night by watchmen¹ with Welsh wigs, sir;
But things are altered very much, for all those who are schollars,
May tell the new policemen by their numbers on their collars.