Ebenezer Elliott Statue (UEB contracted)
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- Synopsis
- The life-size statue of Ebenezer Elliott is mounted on a large square stone plinth that is surrounded by two small steps with 4 black metal bollards in each corner. The word "Elliott" has been engraved in capital letters half way up the stone plinth. Ebenezer is shown in his later years in a thoughtful pose sitting on one of his favourite rocks in the Rivelin Valley north-west of Sheffield. His right leg is slightly elevated with his right foot resting on a raised part of the rock. He is resting his right hand on his right knee. He is dressed in informal clothes of the Victorian era - an undershirt, a neck tie tied loosely around his neck, a waistcoat with 3 buttons, a long coat with tails and long straight trousers. The tactile image shows the upper part of the stone plinth and the statue, the steps and bollards have been omitted. The word "Elliott" has been shown as raised letters. Ebenezer Elliott (1781-1849) owned an iron foundry in Sheffield and was also a poet. He campaigned strongly against the Corn Laws, which put a tax on corn and made bread more expensive. The Corn Laws were introduced in 1815 to protect British corn prices from cheaper grain imports. This enabled farmers to get a better price for their crops but meant that bread was more expensive to buy. The House of Lords finally repealed the Corn Laws in 1846, three years before Elliott’s death. At the age of six Elliott contracted smallpox, which temporarily blinded him but left him permanently disfigured. After attending 4 different schools and “learning nothing but vagabondism” he was sent to work in his father’s factory. He received no wages, only occasional pocket money, until the age of 23. Despite his early school life Elliott resolved to “undertake the great task of self-instruction” and wrote his first poem ˜Vernal walk” in 1797, aged 17. Elliott’s poetry on the Corn Laws resulted in his nickname of the ˜Paupers Poet” or the ˜Corn Law Rhymer.” He wrote over 315 poems in his lifetime. Some of his poems were adapted to popular tunes and were sung at the start of political rallies. John Betjeman refers to Ebenezer Elliott in his poem ˜An Edwardian Sunday, Broomhill, Sheffield.” This is a section of the poem: Your own Ebenezer Looks down from his height On back street and alley And chemical Valley Laid out in the light; On ugly and pretty Where industry thrives In this hill-shadowed city Of razors and knives After Elliott's death in 1849, £600 was raised to pay for the statue that originally was situated in Sheffield's Market Place but was moved to the park in 1875.
- Copyright:
- 2011
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Excellent
- Publisher:
- RNIB
- Date of Addition:
- 05/08/17
- Copyrighted By:
- RNIB
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
- Art and Architecture
- Submitted By:
- Ian Green
- Proofread By:
- N/A
- Usage Restrictions:
- This is a copyrighted book.