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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 granie ionic olumns broken forward under entablature frames panels depicting looms, except on side bearing medallion f Kay. Dome of Portland stone encircled by balustrade, curmounted by bronze figure of Fame and surrounded by smaller figures of Agriculture, Engineering, Mining and Weaving.

John Kay, who was born near Bury in 1704, is remembered for his textile inventions principally the fly shuttle, a simple device which dramatically increased the output of the handloom. It was widely adopted, stimulating the search for improved technologies in the spinning sector. Kay's contribution to the emergence of factory-produced cloth was recognised by the earliest historians of the cotton trade, who portrayed him as an individual whose native intelligence had enabled him to produce one of the key inventions of the industrial revolution but, importantly, also an individual who never received the financial rewards from his invention that he deserved. In a life that was weakly documented, one of the most repeated incidents was the attack on his house by workers concerned about the impact his invention would have on their own livelihoods; an incident which forced him to leave Bury. (It was the subject of one of the murals painted by Ford Madox Brown in Manchester Town Hall.) Kay eventually went to France where he died in c.1780, and was buried in an unidentified common grave. Kay's connection with Bury and the significance of his invention in a community which became an important cotton town were recognised locally though little came of suggestions made during the nineteenth century that the town might acknowledge this connection by raising a public monument. An exception was a statue of Kay erected by Robert Hall on his large ironworks in Union Street. The inclusion by the Corporation of crossed shuttles on the municipal coat of arms was also a recognition of Kay's invention. A more concerted and ultimately successful effort to provide a public monument began early in the next century when celebrations were organised to mark the bi-centenary of Kay's birth. In recognising one of the town's most important figures it was proposed to raise a memorial and, more practically, establish Kay scholarships to encourage further innovation in the textile industry. William Wilkinson, the Weavers' general secretary, caught the mood in arguing that it was not too late to honour Kay whose invention, above all others, had allowed the modern weaving industry to develop. Subscriptions began to be collected. It was in 1906 that the idea of a separate statue was boosted when one of Bury's most prominent businessman, Henry Whitehead, who had already provided the town with a number of gifts, agreed to meet all the costs of creating a new public space in the centre of the town on which would stand a memorial to Kay. Whitehead's generosity meant that all of the money collected by public subscription could be used for scholarships. The new public space was the triangular site of land previously occupied by the town’s Derby Market; a new market hall having been built in 1901. Plans were made to lay out this land as a small public garden. The memorial was designed by the Bristol architect, William Venn Gough (1842-1918), who has been described as 'a rogue architect with at times something maniacal about his designs.' He had become known in Bury through his work on the grammar school. Whitehead selected the design which was then approved by the council. The Manchester sculptor, John Cassidy, was commissioned to provide the bronze statuary and plaques. In all Cassidy sculpted five figures including four male figures representing different industries. Not all of the work went outside of the town as the local building firm, Thompson and Brierley, were responsible for the construction of the memorial. Some of the stone saved from the old market building was incorporated in the lower part of the monument. Kay Gardens and the Kay Monument were opened in April 1908. Mrs Henry Whitehead opened the gardens and the Earl of Derby unveiled the monument. The speeches recognised both the debt that was owed to Kay and the great improvement to the town brought about by the new gardens. An editorial on the day's events in the Manchester Guardian, however, pointed to a more practical lesson: the need to strengthen existing patent laws to prevent the losses suffered by inventors such as Kay and Crompton [Was memorial influenced by the erection in the centre of Great Harwood (Blackburn) of an elaborate clock tower in memory of John Mercer, who invented mercerised cotton, a process which gave cotton a sheen. (20 June 1903)

Kay is celebrated for his textile inventions principally the fly shuttle, a device which transformed the weaving of cloth. Although the memorial plaque might suggest otherwise Kay did not live to witness the development of the power loom. But as the plaque acknowledges his inventive talents were not confined to the textile industry but embraced many other areas. Kay’s contribution was recognised by the earliest historians of the cotton trade. The earliest biography placed him alongside Richard Arkwright and Samuel Crompton, also Lancashire men, as one of the individuals whose native intelligence enabled the development of the factory-based cotton industry.

circa

raw year

Condition

At risk

Inscriptions

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Panels

Bronze

Plinth

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338cm wide

Main structure

1036cm high

Corrosion, Deterioration

Weathering of detail

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On figures/upper parts

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Algae to upper parts

None

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To lower parts