Monument’s story is one
NEWCASTLE is dotted with statues, plaques, and memorials commemorating people and events that helped shape the life and times of the city.
We’ll be pointing out some of them in up-and-coming weekly Tyneside Revealed features.
If you’ve ever wandered down to the Bigg Market, you’ll have spotted the distinctive structure on these pages.
This is the Rutherford memorial drinking fountain, erected in 1894 in memory of Dr John Hunter Rutherford – a well-known Presbyterian minister and educationalist. It was formally unveiled by Joseph Cowen, proprietor of the Evening Chronicle.
The fountain was one of many constructed in the city during the 19th Century to improve the quality of drinking water for Newcastle’s growing workingclass population.
The city corporation of the day provided public fountains and standpipes in locations such as Gallowgate, Percy Street, High Friar Street, Newgate Street, High Bridge, Side, Westgate Street (today’s Westgate Road), Pilgrim Street, Manor Street, Sandgate West and East, St Ann’s Row, East Ballast Hills, St Lawrence, New Green Market, and Leazes. Born in Jedburgh in 1826, Rutherford moved to Newcastle, where he became a popular figure.
More than 5,000 people attended his funeral in 1890.
Rutherford’s memorial was built by the Band of Hope Union in memory of the good doctor who pioneered free secondary and technical education for the city. He founded Bath Lane Church in 1860 and set up a number of schools in Newcastle. He was clearly a good egg who provided free breakfasts before school for poor children.
His monument has been around the houses! It stood initially outside the