Jimmy Allen, the Gypsy Piper

“Larger than life” would be one way of describing a man who thieved, cheated and charmed his way through life.

Jimmy was an army deserter and adventurer, who travelled to far off foreign lands and an escapee from more than one prison!

His one redeeming feature was his musical skill with the smallpipes, and his playing won him admirers far and wide.

The Northumbrian smallpipes are bellows-blown bagpipes, not mouth-blown as in the Scottish bagpipes. A leather bag tucked under the player’s left arm acts as a reservoir of air and is balanced by bellows tucked under the player’s right arm. A chanter with eight finger holes produces the melody and drones provide the background harmony.

The small pipes have provided North East England with a musical identity for centuries.

But in Durham City the pipes are forever linked with the name Jimmy Allen, “the man with the golden pipes”.

In 1803 Jimmy’s run of luck ran out and he was arrested for horse stealing in Gateshead. He was brought to Durham for trial and sentenced to death, however he was granted a pardon by King George III on the condition that he be transported to the new overseas colony of Botany Bay in Australia. And thus Jimmy came to be held in the House of Correction beneath Elvet Bridge awaiting his fate.

By now he was in his early 70s and his health was deteriorating. On the 15 February 1810 a petition was raised requesting King George III grant a free pardon to the piper. Due to the King’s ill health, there was a delay in the pardon being signed but eventually this was completed by the Prince Regent and instructions were sent to free the imprisoned man.

The pardon arrived at the jail on 17 November 1810, exactly four days too late. For Jimmy Allen had died on 13 November 1810.

The entrance to the old House of Correction is still visible beneath Elvet Bridge in Durham City, and it’s said if you stand there at midnight, you may hear the eerie sound of Jimmy playing his beloved Northumbrian smallpipes.