David Ross Lietch [SEP] date of death
David Ross Lietch
David Ross Lietch (c1809-1881) was a 19th-century Tyneside born poet and songwriter. His most famous song is the ballad "The Cliffs of Old Tynemouth".
Life.
Lietch was born c1809 at North Shields, the second son of Rev William Lietch. For some years he practised on Tyneside as a physician having gained his degree at the University of Edinburgh.
He published "Poetic Fragments", a volume of poetry in 1838 and founded the North Shields newspaper, "
The Cliffs of Old Tynemouth
"The Cliffs of Old Tynemouth" is a Geordie folk song written in the 19th century by David Ross Lietch. This song is a ballad, romanticising about one of the tourist sights of the Tyneside area.
Lyrics.
This song appears in a small pamphlet or chapbook being Number 2 of a series appearing to consist of only 3, forming a series of 'Shields' songs. They were published in the 1850s by the Shields Gazette editor, William Brockie. The songs reflect the