A broadside is a sheet of paper printed on one side only. Historically, broadsides were used as posters, as advertisements, to announce events, to make proclamations, or to provide commentary in the form of ballads. Broadside ballad sellers would display their stock in some way and maybe sing a few verses to attract a crowd. Often they were blind men who would have had difficulty in earning a living by other means. Sometimes they would work in pairs, singing alternate verses and sometimes they would accompany themselves on a fiddle. The ballads were printed in various sizes with the largest being perhaps A3 in today’s nomenclature and these came to be known a ‘broadsheets’ or ‘broadsides’. As topical and ultimately disposable items we are lucky to have many surviving examples in archives around the country. e.g. Broadside Ballads Online from Bodleain Libraries British Library Collection Guides : Ballads and Broadsides Several song pages on this site show images of broadsides which feature them. This section contains images and information of broadsides (and other sources of songs) which may have been too large or too inconvenient to include on the song pages. It is hoped to provide additional information regarding sources when I can. This section is currently being updated. Th’ best Pen’orth i’ Owdham Manchester V Liverpool or the Great Ship Canal Scheme! Inland Navigation From the Gentleman’s Magazine 1766 The Manchester Ship Canal (1) The Manchester Ship Canal (2) Manchester Ship Canal Song Originally from Notes and Queries, March 12 1881, Manchester Reference Library New Song on the Proposed Ship Canal Prosperity to the Ship Canal Song of Triumph! Ship Canal When the Ships Come Sailing In by Edwin Waugh