Manual Ref* | NFnrNOR152 Show 5 images | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Title* |
Tomb/plinth memorial of John Barker |
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Setting | In cemetery | Access | Public | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Commissioned by |
Subscription organised by the Van-Dwellers association | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Design & Constrn period |
1897 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of installing |
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Work is |
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Owner/Custodian |
Norwich City Council | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Listing status |
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Surface Condition |
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Structural Condition |
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Vandalism |
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Overall condition |
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Risk |
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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: |
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On Site Inspection |
Date: 29/5/2006 |
Inspected by: |
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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: |