The bronze statue of Stephenson on Westgate Road, presented in late middle age with pensive expression, rolled-up plan in hand and a huge toga-like scarf over his shoulder which commentators described as a 'Northumbrian plaid'. At the corners of the base there are four over-life-size reclining figures, half-Greek hero, half-contemporary worker: a plate-layer with a model of Stephenson's 'fish-bellied rail'; a miner with Stephenson's patent safety-lamp; a blacksmith with a small anvil; and a locomotive engineer leaning on a relatively up-to-date model of a locomotive. There appears to have been some uncertainty amongst contemporaries as to whether these were 'emblematic' of Stephenson's career, or 'typical of the new class of operatives created by the invention of the locomotive'.
On 3rd October 1862 the monument was inaugurated at a ceremony attended, so it was claimed, by over 100,000 spectators.
1st August 2022
10th July 2022
19th June 2022
30th October 2009
13th September 2008
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29th July 2007

More Information:
- Wikipedia - George Stephenson
- Historic England - George Stephenson Memorial
- Co-Curate - Stephenson Monument
- Sitelines - Westgate Road, Statue of George Stephenson
See my other photos concerning George Stephenson:
- South Street - Stephenson Works
- Forest Hall - Dial Cottage (George Stephenson's Cottage)
- George Stephensons Cottage on my Wylam page
See my other photos around Westgate Road:
1 comment:
I have looked at this monument for years not realising its George Stephenson because of it position you don't get too close to read it. George Stephenson is my ancester on my grandmothers side of the family.
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