“Theyr moving father’s grave to build a sewer” ….. from Victoria Street to Wythenshawe

To be accurate this is not a story about moving dad, but more about Oliver Cromwell and his journey from the city centre to a park.

Happy, circa 1900

And I have Tony Flynn that excellent Salford historian to thank for the idea.

Like many I am ambivalent about Cromwell. He was the man behind the New Model Army which wopped the forces of King Charles 1 during the English Civil War, was head of England’s only republic, and allowed Jews to return to the country.

But as Lord Protector his later years had hints of monachal rule while the invasion of Ireland, the brutality of the conquest, and the confiscation of land along with the denial of rights for Catholics in the Act Of Settlement have marred his reputation.

Moving, 1968

None of which I suspect had anything to do with the moving of his statue from close to the Cathedral in May 1968 to Wythenshawe Park.

For 93 years he had stood on his stone plinth facing the Royal Exchange and flanked by the Cathedral on one side and Exchange Railway Station on the other.

He was a gift to the City Council from Mrs Heywood and the bronze figure with its granite plinth cost £1,600. The council made much of the statue at a special meeting held on December 1st, before “the Corporation accompanied by a large number of friends proceeded to the statue which was unveiled in the presence of many thousands of spectators.  Three cheers were given for the queen, the Royal Family and Mrs. Heywood and the Mayor.”**

I have long wondered at exactly why it was moved.  The official line was that it got in the way of traffic.

It’s arrival in the park was not an easy one, and just a week later it was daubed with red paint which “Mr. R.C Mcmillan director of the city parks believed there was more in the daubing than ordinary vandalism”***

Nor was it a good year all round for Oliver.

Later in the year just before British Rail phased out the last steam locomotives, it chose a Britannia Class steam engine, Oliver Cromwell, No 70013  to haul a special “London to Manchester tour train to mark the centenary of the opening of the London-Manchester railway service”.****

All of which seems fine and fitting, except that according to the same report “A diesal was substituted for the last stage of the journey from Nottingham”.

Flat bed indignity, 1968

A double whammy of ingratitude.

Pictures;  Cromwell in his original home, circa 1900, Judge Picture Postcard, from the collection of V & G Harris, the chaps moving him, 1968 courtesy of Tony Flynn

*Musical Hall song, "Theyr moving father's grave to build a sewer

They're moving it regardless of expense.

They're moving his remains to lay down nine-inch

drains

To irrigate some rich bloke's residence".

**The Cromwell Statue, Manchester Guardian, December 2nd, 1875

***Paint daubed on Cromwell statue, The Guardian, June 4th, 1968

****Final Journey, The Guardian, June 10th, 1968