A View of the Lancashire Dialect; containing the Adventures and Misfortunes of a Lancashire Clown

by Tim Bobbin.

Published in 1750 Tim Bobbin’s comic dialect masterpiece was a great success in the north of England.  It was reprinted, further editions appeared and it was pirated by unscrupulous printers. Tim Bobbin was the pen-name of JohnCollier, born in Urmston in 1708.  His father was a minister and school master until he became blind at the age of 46.  John had then to abandon hopes of further education and earn a living which he did initially as an apprenticed weaver and later as a teacher at Milnrow near Rochdale.

John Collier was an accomplished artist and displayed his work in pubs.  It was soon in great demand.  In April 1744 he married Mary Clay of Flockton near Huddersfield.  Apart from a brief, unhappy move to Yorkshire, John remained in Milnrow until his death on 14th July 1786.  He lies buried in Rochdale Churchyard.