Broadside report entitled 'Downfall of Harvie's Dyke'

Commentary

This report begins: 'An account of that most important and final decision regarding the notorious Dyke on the Banks of the Clyde, which was finally decided by the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords, on Tuesday last.-- Glasgow, 10th July, 1828.' The sheet was published by John Muir of Princes Street, Glasgow.

This broadside is concerned with legally identifying the rights of way for a footpath that ran alongside the River Clyde. Rather than being settled locally, however, the court case to determine this issue ended up being decided in the House of Lords. The House of Lords eventually ruled in favour of the people's walking rights, hence the shouts of 'HUZZA!' at the end of the sheet.

Broadsides are single sheets of paper, printed on one side, to be read unfolded. They carried public information such as proclamations as well as ballads and news of the day. Cheaply available, they were sold on the streets by pedlars and chapmen. Broadsides offer a valuable insight into many aspects of the society they were published in, and the National Library of Scotland holds over 250,000 of them.

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