Manual Ref* NFnrNOR152 Show 5 images 89
Title*

Tomb/plinth memorial of John Barker
County Norfolk   District Council Norwich City Council 
Civil Parish or equivalent Norwich City Council  Town/Village* Norwich - Rosary Cemetery 
Road Rosary Road 
Precise Location Rosary cemetery, number 2 on map in Williams et al 
OS Grid Ref TG245086  Postcode NR1 
Previous location(s)  
Setting In cemetery  Access Public 
Artist/Maker Role Qualifier
Not known     

Commissioned by

 Subscription organised by the Van-Dwellers association 

Design & Constrn period

 1897 

Date of installing

  

Exact date of unveiling

  

Category
Abstract Animal Architectural
Commercial Commemorative Composite
Free Functional Funerary
Heraldic Military Natural
Non-Commemorative Performance Portable
Religious Roadside, Wayside Sculptural
Temporary, Mobile Other  

Object Type
Building Clock Tower Architectural
Coat of Arms Cross Fountain
Landscape Marker Medallion
Mural Panel Readymade
Relief Shaft Sculpture
Statue Street Furniture War Memorial
Other Object Sub Type: Tomb/plinth with commemorative bust under canopy

Subject Type
Allegorical Mythological Pictorial
Figurative Non-figurative Portrait
Still-life Symbolic Other

Subject Sub Type
Bust Equestrian Full-length
Group Head Reclining
Seated Standing Torso
Part Material Dimension
Bust of John Barker  Stone  H 50 cms W 50 cms 
Stepped tomb/plinth  Stone  H 120 cms W & D 80cms 
Canopy with urn  Stone  H 146 cms W & D 80 cms 

Work is
Extant Not Sited Lost

Owner/Custodian

 Norwich City Council 

Listing status
Grade I Grade II* Grade II Don't Know Not Listed

Surface Condition
Corrosion, Deterioration Accretions
Bird Guano Abrasions, cracks, splits
Biological growth Spalling, crumbling
Metallic staining Previous treatments
Other  
Detail: Worn

Structural Condition
Armature exposed Broken or missing parts
Replaced parts Loose elements
Cracks, splits, breaks, holes Spalling, crumbling
Water collection Other
Detail: The tip of Barker's nose has been repaired in a lighter stone and there are repairs to the socle.

Vandalism
Graffiti Structural damage Surface Damage
Detail:

Overall condition
Good Fair Poor

Risk
No Known Risk At Risk Immediate
Signatures/Marks  
Inscriptions On decorative plaque under bust: SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN BARKER /STEAM CIRCUS PROPRIETOR On top step of tomb plinth: WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED/ ON NORWICH CATTLE MARKET/ APRIL 12 1897 AGED 60 YEARS Next step down: HAD HE ASKED US, THIS WE KNOW,/ WE SHOULD HAVE CRIED, O SPARE THIS BLOW/ YES, WITH STREAMING TEARS SHOULD SAY/ LORD, WE LOVE HIM, LET HIM STAY To left: IN LOVING MEMORY OF /CHARLOTTE BARKER/ THE BELOVED WIFE OF/JOHN BARKER/WHO DIED DEC.3RD 1900 AGED 50 YEARS/ GO HOME DEAR CHILDREN. WEEP NOT FOR ME/ FOR MANY YEARS I’VE TOILED FOR THEE./ I ALWAYS STROVE TO DO MY BEST./AND NOW I’VE GONE TO TAKE MY REST To right on first step CAROLINE/ BELOVED DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE/ BORN 9TH FEB. 1880/ DIED 30TH DEC. 1932/ REST IN PEACE Step below: HESTER SOPHIA THURSTON/ DIED APRIL 12TH 1900/ AGED 10 MONTHS/ SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME 

Description (physical)

 Bust of John Barker is set on top of the stepped square tomb/plinth under a canopy- topped by an urn. He is shown wearing a smart collar and tie under his coat, balding with a neat beard. The image of the successful middle classes, rather than the travelling showmen. This, however, was a community which greatly respected him for his continued kindnesses to members who were in difficulties. 

Description (iconographical)

 John Barker, who had been born in Halesworth Suffolk, had followed his father’s career as a travelling showman, but had adapted steam and mechanisation for his rides. His success made him a major figure among travelling showmen, and Vice-Chairman of the Van-Dwellers Association. Following his funeral at the Rosary Cemetery they commissioned Barker’s monument, initially with a sketch for approval, to which many contributed. Barker had been setting up one of his rides on the Cattle Market on 12th April 1897 when two trucks collided, crushing him. His burial at the Rosary Cemetery on Good Friday attracted over a thousand mourners, including representatives of the Norwich and Ipswich Lodges of Freemasons. 

Photographs

 Date taken:  29/5/2006
Date logged: 

Photographed by:
Sarah Cocke

On Site Inspection

 Date:  29/5/2006

Inspected by:
Richard Cocke

Sources and References

 Williams, Nick, Marriage, Jim and June, The Rosary Cemetery, Norwich. A Place of Decent Interment, Norwich, 2005 13 and 20; Author unknown, ‘A showman’s funeral’, Norwich Weekly Standard and Argus, 24 April, 1897 

Database

 Date entered:  1/6/2006

Data inputter:
Richard Cocke