Richard Grainger 150th Anniversary
Dr Mike Casselden reports
On 25th July I had the pleasure of representing the Society at the unveiling of the interpretation panel for the recently restored grave of Richard Grainger (1797-1861) at St James’ Church, Benwell.
This event, celebrating the restoration of the grave by the City council, marked the 150th anniversary of his death and preceding the ceremony Councillor Lord (Jeremy) Beecham gave a short address in the church along with Ian Ayris the manager for the council’s Urban Design and Conservation Team. A previous article here reported the restoration and the significance of Richard Grainger on the face of the City centre. Ian drew on his published research and quoted William Howitt, a major Victorian literary figure who visited Newcastle in 1842 & wrote: “You walk into what has been termed the Coal Hole of the North & find yourself at once in A CITY OF PALACES, a fairyland of newness, brightness & modern elegance. And who has wrought this change. It is Mr Grainger.”
And to quote Ian: “ He is commemorated by a plaque in St James’ Church which contains the words ‘A citizen of Newcastle does not need to be reminded of the genius of Richard Grainger’… celebrated by a small water fountain in Waterloo Street, a memorial floor plate installed recently as part of the Grainger Town Project and, of course, by the street which bears his name. But it was the Newcastle Daily Journal on the day of his death which spoke for the people of the town by repeating the words once dedicated to Christopher Wren, which summed up Grainger’s achievements: “If you seek my monument, look around.”
With thanks to Ian for allowing me to quote him.
City and County
November 2011
