Memorials

This one, called The Quinn, Swinburne Memorial featuring Gateshead's John Lennon,



was on the east side of new Durham Road south of the Abbott Industrial School, indeed on pics of the Abbot school it can be seen...see pic below
Here's the story from the Gateshead Observer
"On Monday [9 August] an affair of a melancholy and somewhat peculiar nature occurred at Gateshead. From the particulars it appeared that at about half past five o'clock on Monday afternoon a boy named John Lennon, nine years of age, living at Coxon Terrace, Felling, was in company with two of his playmates near Messrs Allhusen's Chemical Works, South Shore, Gateshead, when he fell down a ventilating shaft of a drain, a distance of fifteen feet.

A man named Wm. Swinburn, aged 25, residing at 50 Frank Terrace, went to the rescue of the unfortunate boy, and succeeded in picking him up. and attempted to return, but when half way up the sewer gas overpowered him and he fell back to the bottom of the shaft. A man named Thomas Quinn then descended, to the aid of the two, but he only got down a few steps before the noxious vapour overpowered him and he also fell to the bottom.

After this, another man named Edward Scullion, obtained a protective mask and went down and attached ropes to the man, the lad and the boy, and they were brought up to the top.

Dr. Kay was immediately sent for, but the boy Lennon and Quinn were dead. Swinburn, however, the man who first attempted to render assistance, lingered until 11 o'clock on Tuesday night, when he died."


A memorial to Thomas Quinn and Thomas Henry Swinburne (not Wm. Swinburn as in the news report) was erected in Durham Road, Gateshead opposite the end of Whitehall Road. The memorial, which was removed about 1969, gave the date 10 August 1886, the date of Thomas Henry Swinburne's death.

Edward Scullion was later awarded the Albert Medal for his bravery.

It was intended that the Memorial would go to Beamish Museum but it is not among the numerous memorials at the far end of The Town at Beamish. There is a petition to Gateshead Council to bring back the Memorial. Is it lanquishing in a depot or has it suffered the same fate of the Gateshead Grammar War Memorials and been destroyed?

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Indeed here on a postcard is the memorial fountain and further down poking above the trees is the Abbott school

This is a memorial and a public drinking fountain, which are are usually a memorial to a person or an event

An ornate Gothic-style drinking fountain. The main structure is flanked by heavy granite drinking troughs topped by miniature pink marble columns (one missing). Above rises a spire with reliefs of sunflowers, roses, lilies and ferns. This was originally surmounted by a weathervane. Soft white marble reliefs are inset in three sides of the memorial, one being a deeply carved bust of Charlton (badly weathered), and the other two are Gateshead's coat of arms.
     It is assumed that the fountain was installed soon after Charlton's death. A forthcoming bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the regeneration of Saltwell Park, includes provision for the restoration of the memorial fountain.
     George Charlton (1808-1885) followed his father into the butcher's trade in Newcastle. He became involved in the temperance movement, being an active member of the 'Newcastle Teetotal Society' at a time when hard drinking was a widespread problem.(1) Later in life he moved to Bensham in Gateshead and was elected Mayor two years in a row, subsequently becoming an Alderman and J.P. His death was widely mourned in the - See more at: http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9795/#sthash.ff3AMh0H.dpuf

Charlton Memorial Drinking Fountain to north-west of Saltwell Towers in Saltwell Park. Late C19. Stone and granite in Gothic style. Square stepped base and battered shaft. Grey granite basins on each face supported on corbels with pink granite columns. Main shaft has inset corner columns of pink granite and high relief carvings, a gable on each face and a crocketed spire with angle pinnacles. Two portrait heads, a coat of arms and an inscription to: "GEORGE CHARLTON ESQ JP Mayor of Gateshead 1874 and 1875 in recognition of his labours in the cause of social reform", in the 4 gable ends. LISTED GRADE 2

See also Maccoy Memorial Fountain


Lucas Monument, Saltwell Park..see bigger pic next


John Lucas, Mayor 1888 & 1889

An ornate Gothic-style drinking fountain. The main structure is flanked by heavy granite drinking troughs topped by miniature pink marble columns (one missing). Above rises a spire with reliefs of sunflowers, roses, lilies and ferns. This was originally surmounted by a weathervane. Soft white marble reliefs are inset in three sides of the memorial, one being a deeply carved bust of Charlton (badly weathered), and the other two are Gateshead's coat of arms.
     It is assumed that the fountain was installed soon after Charlton's death. A forthcoming bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the regeneration of Saltwell Park, includes provision for the restoration of the memorial fountain.
     George Charlton (1808-1885) followed his father into the butcher's trade in Newcastle. He became involved in the temperance movement, being an active member of the 'Newcastle Teetotal Society' at a time when hard drinking was a widespread problem.(1) Later in life he moved to Bensham in Gateshead and was elected Mayor two years in a row, subsequently becoming an Alderman and J.P. His death was widely mourned in the - See more at: http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9795/#sthash.ff3AMh0H.dpuf

An ornate Gothic-style drinking fountain. The main structure is flanked by heavy granite drinking troughs topped by miniature pink marble columns (one missing). Above rises a spire with reliefs of sunflowers, roses, lilies and ferns. This was originally surmounted by a weathervane. Soft white marble reliefs are inset in three sides of the memorial, one being a deeply carved bust of Charlton (badly weathered), and the other two are Gateshead's coat of arms.
     It is assumed that the fountain was installed soon after Charlton's death. A forthcoming bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the regeneration of Saltwell Park, includes provision for the restoration of the memorial fountain.
     George Charlton (1808-1885) followed his father into the butcher's trade in Newcastle. He became involved in the temperance movement, being an active member of the 'Newcastle Teetotal Society' at a time when hard drinking was a widespread problem.(1) Later in life he moved to Bensham in Gateshead and was elected Mayor two years in a row, subsequently becoming an Alderman and J.P. His death was widely mourned in the - See more at: http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9795/#sthash.ff3AMh0H.dpuf

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               The Felling Heritage Group