Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

ABEL HEYWOOD

Region ID

MR

Work ID

176

Manual Reference

MR/MTH23

Type

Other

Title

ABEL HEYWOOD

Sculptor

Swynnerton, Joseph William

Date of design

Year of unveiling

1880

Unveiling details

20 October 1880

Road

Albert Square

Precise Location

Sculpture Hall

A to Z Ref

p.158 F1

OS Ref

SJ835980

Postcode

Work is

Extant

Listing Status

Not listed

Duty of Care

Manchester City Council

Commissioned by

Subscribers/friends

Notes

Marble bust, on square black yellow mottled marble pedestal

Presented by Dr. John Watts and Henry Slatter on behalf of the subscribers and accepted by the corporation on 20 October 1880

Abel Heywood was one of the leading liberals in Victorian Manchester. He had come to prominence in his fight against the taxes on knowledge, having ben imprisoned for selling the unstamped press. He became an active member of the council and served on a number of key committees. He was best remembered for chairing the committee which oversaw the building of the new town hall. He was mayor in 1877, on which occasion he opened the Town Hall. He was still alive when the bust was presented.. He was referred to as the father of the council in the letter accompanying the presentation of the bust (1) (2)

circa

raw year

1880

Condition

Good

At risk

Not at risk

Inscriptions

ALDERMAN ABEL HEYWOOD, MAYOR, 1862. 1876

Signatures

none visible

Elements

Element Details

Part of work

Material

Dimensions

Bust

Marble

92cm high

Pedestal

Marble

120cm high

Assessment of Condition

Surface Character

Detail

Comment

No damage

Structural Condition

Structural Condition

Comment

None

Vandalism

Vandalism

Comment

None