Comments on: Preston Corn Exchange: The wrong statue?

By: Jimbo1947

Jimbo1947 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:50:00 +0000

it is in the wrong position, as the military also fired upon the coperation arms which is right of the statue and is now part of ringway,also I cannot find out were benard mcnamara one of the rioters is buried, but i do have a copy of his death certifacte

By: Rik Shepherd

Rik Shepherd — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:11:55 +0000

Regarding the absence of the man who died on the spot – the People’s History Museum in Manchester (Pump House as was) have a maquette for this statue, which is interestingly different to the real thing.

The workers in the maquette look a lot more human (I’m sorry, but when I first saw the statue in situ I wondered why the workers were dressed as gorillas) – and there’s a fourth rioter lying face down between the falling rioters and the troops. It might have been that when the maquette was scaled up, someone realised that there wouldn’t be enough room on the plinth for all the figures.

The troops look broadly the same, apart from not having metal guns on the maquette.

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:07:06 +0000

Thanks for that clarification, Pauline. The event is certainly endlessly fascinating. As you say, that there is a statue at all is a good thing, and these things should be remembered.

By: Pauline Brunton

Pauline Brunton — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:29:08 +0000

The Riot Act came into force in 1715, and had been read a few times before, including during the Peterloo riots 23 years before. As for the people who died, the 2 figures could represent them or not. The horror when the shooting began was in part due to a rumour that the guns were not loaded (according to the newspaper reports) The four who died were George Sowerbuts, weaver Chandler Street ,14th August 1842 Aged 19 years
Bernard McNamara, cotton stripper 6 Birk Street 15th August 1842
Aged 17 years
John Mercer, power loom weaver Ribbleton Avenue 16th August 1842
Aged 27 years
William Lancaster, unemployed Address not known Friday 19th August 1842
Aged 23 years (His address was quoted as Nugent Street but according to the census reports of the time, there was no Nugent street in Preston or Blackburn. Macnamara died at home, and according to some of the reports was not a rioter, just wrong place wrong time. The wounded were James Roberts, shot in the hand, Lawrence Pilling, leg amputated and Bryan Hodgson, a shoe maker who was shot in the back. They were not prosecuted for rioting as it was deemed they had suffered enough. Anyway, it was Guild year and who wanted to remember such unpleasantness?

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:23:46 +0000

Hi,
Great to get some reaction to the article!

I mentioned the source of the article, as great as it is I couldn’t quote the whole thing – but I highly recommend it, great journalism. whilst yes, I’ve chosen the bit that backed my argument, no part of the article refers to an excecution squad, or to the people cowering. That people died and were injured is clear.

Well, you’re perhaps right about who could be who, but if the statue is being historic, why miss out the person who died on the spot? The strange symbolism of the statue is still the same.

Hmm, Goya isn’t subtle with his symbolism, a martry with arms in a vaguely cross-like position bathed in light – who could that be? Perhaps Goya should have included a cross

Whatever the ins and outs, I’ve always found the statue a little patronising, especially due to the inscription beginning “Remember remember…” I might come up with dodgy arguments but I’m not 7 years old!

By: Pauline Brunton

Pauline Brunton — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:07:55 +0000

The statue is also facing the wrong way, if you want to be a complete anorak about it. I have always disliked the statue but it does have one thing going for it, in that it is there at all.

By: tek

tek — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:48:03 +0000

The Goya painting does indeed depict a person bathed in light but that might be due to the lantern in front of him and doesn’t in the slighest IMHO denote a “Jesus like figure”.

I’m sorry but I really don’t agree about the central figure, if you knew about the injuries sustained by the 7 people people shot; you know what the central figure was possibly doing. He was presumably M.Namara, about 21, shot through the bowels and likely to die (as reported when he was taken to the House of recovery).

The person depicted with hands above his head could be a man named William Lancaster, aged 23, who came from Blackburn, who stepped out in front of the mob with a huge rock above his head was shot
when the 72nd fired, and he fell.

Who knows about the third, maybe it’s a depiction of horror at people being shot.

The real reason it’s a famous situation is that is was the first time the Riot Act was read in the UK and that is what makes it so historic.

Also, if you’re going to quote the Preston Pilot, please quote it in full; it’s just if you’re going to write about my home town (and yours) at least gather and show the facts rather than embelish it with the bits that suit your stance on the subject at hand. You might also want to know it made the Illustrated London News with a picture depicting a male and female rioter knocked to the ground as they clash with armed soldiers, with the caption “PRESTON – ATTACK ON THE MILITARY. – TWO RIOTERS SHOT.”

On a more interesting note, the statue is facing the wrong way, which was a real issue at the time of its unveiling )

As for Conspiracy theories, you might very well be right! My own experiences with the Council in the mid 90′s really enlightened me to how bent they can be when it suits them.