Why no statues in Accy?

[Tealeaf]

A similar one in Blackburn is the "Mum holding Child" in Lord Square. When that was unveiled in the mid-60's there was a right uproar. The reason? The lady is not wearing a wedding ring, which in the (albeit changing) moral climate of the time was well frowned upon....The Bishop of Blackburn wanted it pulled down, saying it encouraged promiscuity and degeneracy.

No comment.

[SPUGGIE J]

James Hargreaves and his Spinning Jenny he was form Stanhill.

[Acrylic-bob]

This is a question I have often wondered over. I think the only memorialisation of a national figure in Accrington is the unremarkable portrait in oil of Queen Victoria which hangs on the staircase of the Town Hall. It seems the great and the good of preceding generations must rely soley on their headstones for a lasting memorial. A sad and sorry state of affairs. I would however agree with comment expressed earlier; HBC, and Accrington Borough Council which preceded it, have little or no appreciation of Art, either public or in general, which accounts for the poor state of the collections in Haworth Art Gallery, where most art galleries have some sort of aquisitions fund, however limited, the Haworth has none and must rely on the generosity of of individuals for developing the collection.

[accymel]

oh dear i would of though someone would of suggested this before me but historically speaking that launched this town, the strength, determination & most of all courage 'lest we not forget them' The Accrington Pals to be hounorably be a a huge feature in our town pride & place.

[SPUGGIE J]

Are you suggesting one on the line of the commando monument in scotland?

[accymel]

I dunno Spuggie cant say ive seen it sounds good though LOL

Originally Posted by SPUGGIE J

Are you suggesting one on the line of the commando monument in scotland?

[SPUGGIE J]

Its on the road upto fort william and looks down the glen. It is simple but puts forward a powerful message in that when you look down the glen it shows what the sacrafice was for.

[accymel]

Thats sounds like what we could do with here Spuggie though dunno whether sticking it up Coppice overlooking Accy would surfice pmsl but some big memorial to celebrate the brave locals of the past.

[SPUGGIE J]

I agree but it needs to be in a place of prominance were all could see but there is a shortage of that kind ecept for on broadway.

[accymel]

Mmmmmmmm broadway..... another good idea cos theres all that space in the middle when all builders have finished be a nice centrepiece

[SPUGGIE J]

Located in moorland beside the A82 trunk road, 1¼ miles (2 km) northwest of Spean Bridge, is the Commando Memorial. This 5.1m (17-foot) high memorial was designed by Scott Sutherland, of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art (Dundee) and unveiled by HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900 - 2002) on 12th September 1952. The three soldiers which comprise the memorial look out from their plinth over Leanachan Forest to the peaks of Aonach Mor and Ben Nevis. It commemorates the elite force known as the 'Commandos', which was set up in 1940 on the orders of Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) to harry the axis forces and regain the initiative on the part of Britain. The force trained in the area around this monument, with their Training Centre at Achnacarry, 4 miles (6 km) to the northwest.

http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/feat...gpix10038.html

[Acrylic-bob]

Originally Posted by accystanmac

oh dear i would of though someone would of suggested this before me but historically speaking that launched this town, the strength, determination & most of all courage 'lest we not forget them' The Accrington Pals to be hounorably be a a huge feature in our town pride & place.

Ok, this will put some people's backs up, but I think it is a question worth asking? Exactly how many public memorials to the Pal's Battalion and the dead of the First World War do you think is enough? Every Town in the borough has at least one, Accrington has two! Most churches of that date have one, as do schools and hospitals and other public buildings.

I would in no way wish to diminish the memory of those who gave their lives but, when is enough, enough?

There must be very few people still left alive in the borough who lived through and can recall the events of WWI and the tremendous sorrow and loss felt by the people left behind. In Accrington, the people demanded a fine public monument as a focus for their grief and as an imperishable monument of personal sacrifice on such an awful scale. But the people for whom the Oak Hill Cenotaph was a vital part of the process of grieving are now, mostly, gone to their graves. The monument remains, as it was intended to, as a reminder of a defining moment in history, both for the town and the country. In it's stark simplicity it is rich in symbolic associations which call to mind the nature of the sacrifices it memorialises.

More than this, it strikes me, is merely mawkish sentimentality which risks turning what many consider fine and noble deeds into merely a side-show of history. Relatives and friends raised the Oak Hill Cenotaph to be the town's collective monument to the fallen. It speaks quietly and simply, as Accrington folk do, to the heart, where memories are properly kept. And for those of us who keep those memories alive there need be no other monument.

[SPUGGIE J]

I was using the commando monument as an example Ab. If we did have a historical figure from Accy built were would it go? The coppice does overlook the town but is far from ideal so maybe up towards green howarth were there is still a view of the town. Other than that there is only broadway.

[accymel]

Well i was mearely suggesting a town centrepiece that relates to the town & the townspeople, ok not Accy pals what about Robert Peel & the Peel family or other big influences of the town?, Queen victoria monuments everywhere too but really what relation is she to Accy or other small towns as blackburn displays her centrally ??

[SPUGGIE J]

Would still like to see James Hargreaves and his jenny though.