Jimmy Allen

Jimmy Allen was born sometime during the 1720’s, into a border family of gypsies. Little else is known of his early life.
He would later become known as ‘The man with the golden pipes’ but during his lifetime, he was a drifter, travelling far and wide and making his way as a thief, a cheat but always with his renowned charm.
He was also an army deserter and an escapee from a number of prisons here and abroad.
All of this appears to have been eclipsed by his skills as a musician, his instrument of choice, the Northumbrian smallpipes, not to be confused with the mouth blown Scottish bagpipes.
In 1803, Jimmy’s luck finally deserted him and he was arrested and sentenced to death for the crime of stealing a horse in nearby Gateshead.
Awaiting his sentence, he was imprisoned in the House of Corrections underneath Elvet Bridge.
George lll granted him a pardon on the condition that he be deported to Botany Bay in Australia.
In his early 70’s by now, his health poor and declining, a petition was raised calling for an absolute pardon.
There was a delay due to the king’s own ill health but it was duly expedited by the Prince Regent.
The pardon arrived in Durham on the 17th of November 1810 but sadly four days too late; Jimmy had died on the 13th.
The entrance to the House of Corrections can still be viewed beneath the bridge and it is said that if you stand there at midnight, you may be lucky enough to hear the haunting music of Jimmy playing his beloved Northumbrian smallpipes.

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