John Kay Memorial, Bury

• Bronze Sculpture : John Cassidy

Memorial to John Kay, inventor of the Flying Shuttle. Ornate Italianate domed octagon on base of seven steps. Horizontally rusticated based sandstone, re used from old market. Main stage of eight red granite ionic columns broken forward under entablature frames panels depicting looms, except on side bearing medallion f Kay. Dome of Portland stone encircled by balustrade, surmounted by bronze figure of Fame and surrounded by smaller figures of Agriculture, Engineering, Mining and Weaving.

MONUMENT TO JOHN KAY. John Kay was born in 1704, in the town of Bury. Lancashire, also the birthplace of Sir Robert Peel. By his mechanical inventions he is considered to have largely contributed to the foundation of the cotton- weaving industry in the county; but. having met with much opposition from the hand-loom weavers of the period, who feared their trade might be injured by the introduction of machinery, he was ultimately obliged to seek refuge in France, where he died in obscurity at a place and date not now known. A tardy movement has now been made to commemorate his work by his fellow towns- men, who propose to erect a monument to his memory in the principal open space of the town, in accordance with the design now illustrated. The entire cost of the scheme will be borne by Mr. H. Whitehead, J.P. D.L., of Bury, late High Sheriff of the county, who is a descendant from a branch of the Kay family. The steps, base, and shafts will be of granite, the remainder of the structure of Portland stone. The figures and panels will be of bronze, modelled by Mr. J. Cassidy, of Manchester. The figure on the summit of the dome represents fame. Those on the pediments agriculture, engineering, weaving, and mining industries carried on in the county. The pediments will contain caned coats of arms of towns and localities associated with John Kay. Beneath will be a portrait medallion with inscription and bas-reliefs representing the progress of the art of weaving, all in bronze. The architect is Mr. W. V. Gough, of Bristol. [Builder 31 August 1907 page 245-6 with illustration]

THE KAY MEMORIAL – The cost of the memorial to John Kay, the inventor of the fly shuttle is being borne entirely by Mr Henry Whitehead JP DL who is a descendant of Kay. The memorial will be in the centre of the old market site. The steps, base and shafts will be of granite and the remainder of the structure of Portland stone. The figures and panels will be of bronze modelled by Mr J Cassidy of Manchester. The figure on the summit of the dome represents “Fame,” those on the pediments “Agriculture,” “Engineering,” “Weaving,” and “Mining,” all important Lancashire industries. The pediments will contain carved coats of arms of towns and localities associated with John Kay. Beneath will be a portrait medallion with inscription and bas reliefs representing the progress of the art of weaving, all in bronze. Mr W. V. Gough FRIBA of Bristol, the architect of the Bury Grammar School, had designed the memorial. [Bury Times 31 August 1907 page 12 with illustration]

Residents of Bury who have been afraid that a new Town Hall would he erected at an enormous expenditure of public money, on the site of the old Market Hall. may have their minds set completely at rest so far as that fear was concerned as the purpose for which the site is to be utilised has now been definitely decided upon. in fact, work has already been commenced upon it. Some ago the Town Council offered the site for the memorial to John Kay, the inventor of the fly shuttle. which a gentleman, whose name at the time was not divulged, had offered to erect at his own expense. Things have developed recently and at meeting of the Bury Town Council on Thursday the Mayor (Alderman Fletcher had the privilege of making a very pleasing announcement - one which will meet with the hearty acceptance and approval o! all the inhabitants of the town and district. He stated that the gentleman who promised the memorial had also consented to lay out the ground and erect a sun dial and flag staff; and the Mayor had the further privilege of announcing another gentleman had promised to erect a drinking fountain on the site. In making the announcement the Mayor said there had been many enquiries as to who the gentleman was displaying such generosity and so he had obtained permission to make public the names of the two gentlemen who are improving the old market site. They were, he said. Mr. Henry Whitehead, of Haslem Hey and Colonel John Barlow of Wellfield, two gentlemen who previously proved themselves benefactors to their fellow townsmen. Mr. Whitehead was the giver of the first recreation ground in the town, that at Elton —and has shown his generosity in many other directions:  and Colonel Barlow was the donor of the recreation ground at Blackford Bridge. 

It may be interesting to our readers to know ground is to be laid out. The site, as most of the inhabitants of the district know. is a triangular one, It is to be fenced off from the street with a stone base and low railings, something similar to those enclosing Sparrow Park. All round the three sides there will be a footpath. The Kay Memorial will occupy the centre of the site. and will be surrounded by a footpath.  At each angle of the site there will be an entrance, and a footpath will run from the entrance to the centre. The three areas enclosed by the footpaths will be laid out with grass flowers and low shrubs and small rockeries may be placed in them but there will be no tall trees.  The sundial will be placed at the entrance nearest the Theatre Royal: the flag staff will be at the entrance nearest the Dispensary: and the fountain which Colonel Barlow is presenting will be at the entrance neared the Athenaeum. The grounds are being laid out under the supervision of Mr. A. W. Bradley, borough surveyor. At present workmen are employed draining the site.

The erection of the Kay memorial has been entrusted to Messrs. Thompson and Brierley, builders and contractors, of Bury. The designer is Mr. W. Venn Gough, architect of the Bury Grammar School. The memorial, which will occupy the central portion of the site will stand about 33 feet or 34 feet high and will be about 11 feet wide. It will be octagonal in shape, though not a pure octagon. Upon a range of seven granite steps will be a polished granite base, with granite columns surmounted by a cornice and dome of Portland stone. Around the base of the dome will be a balustrade of Portland stone. On the principal face of the monument will be a medallion portrait of the inventor in bronze underneath which will be a panel bearing an inscription; and the other three faces will also bear a bronze panel. The dome will be surmounted by a bronze figure representing "Fame" and there will be four smaller bronze figures, one on each corner, representing respectively "Agriculture," "Engineering," "Mining," and "Weaving." All together there will be eighteen pieces of bronze on the memorial and Mr. John Cassidy of Manchester has been commissioned to execute this work. The granite steps will be supplied by Messrs Arthur Lee Brothers, Bristol and Manchester; and the Portland stone by the Bath Stones Firms Ltd. Messrs. Thompson and Brierley expect having the work completed before the end of October. [Bury Times 3 August 1907 page 2]

THE KAY MEMORIAL TO BE ERECTED AT BURY - An important order, which has just been fulfilled by Mr. Ed. Dingle. Stonemason, Great Union Road, is a welcome tribute to the excellence of Jersey granite is that for the steps and pedestal for the "Kay Memorial " to be shortly erected at Bury, Lancashire. There are seven courses of steps constructed of fine white granite from Mr. Chas. Le Quesne's Mont Mado quarry, which measure 31 feet across. and are composed of no fewer than 264 stones. On the steps is to stand a pedestal in finely axed red granite from the same quarry. 11 feet. 3 inches across and 5 feet in height. In design the pedestal is eight-sided. with four curved faces and four square, with pillars of square section at each angle. Both design and workmanship are of the best. and the work. when erected, will be a standing testimonial both to our Island granite and to the work which can be turned out locally. All told, there are 338 pieces in the steps and pedestal. and it constitutes, as a whole, one of the finest pieces of stone-masonry exported from the Island for a long time. [Jersey Times and British Press - Friday 11 October 1907 page 2

KAY GARDENS - The old market site, now called Kay Gardens, has been laid out as an open space, and the John Kay Memorial erected in the centre, together with a drinking fountain opposite the entrance near the Atheneum and a sundial opposite the entrance near the market. A foot-walk, 20 feet wide, encircles the memorial, a 15 feet foot-walk radiates from the centre to each entrance, and a 7 feet foot-walk is provided close to the boundaries along Haymarket Street Market Street, and Moss Street. These foot-walks are finished in Stuart’s granolithic on a hardcore foundation. The vacant land has been sown and planted with shrubs, seats have been provided, and the whole site fenced in with stone copings and ornamental iron railings. The whole cost d by the work has been defrayed by Mr. Henry P of head, except the fountain, which was the as a Mr. John Barlow.  [Bury Times Saturday 31 October 1908 page 4]

Reference    Builder 31 August 1907 page 245-6 with illustration
Reference    Bury Times 31 August 1907 page 12 
Reference    Bury Times 3 August 1907 page 2 – Kay Gardens
Reference    Jersey Times and British Press - Friday 11 October 1907 page 2 -Granite
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 4 April 1908 Page 5 – unveiling with illustration by C Gustave Agate
Reference    Bury Times 4 April 1908 page 12 -opening with illustrations
Reference    Building News 10 April 1908 Page 523