This site celebrates the life and work of sculptor John
Cassidy (1860 - 1939).
This page is for news, comments from readers and other odds and ends that don't need their own page.
Website created and compiled by Charlie Hulme and Lis Nicolson, with the invaluable assistance of the John Cassidy Committee, Slane Historical Society.
News and comment: updated 01 November 2008
Fame at the Cemetery
John Lynch writes: 'In Southern Cemetery, Manchester they have recently opened a small centre at the main gate in memory of well-known people buried there. John Cassidy is one of about twenty people written on a scroll, and this website has been printed and stored in a folder there.'
King Edward refreshed
Refurbishment work by the City Council on the statue of King Edward VII in Whitworth Park, Manchester, was complete in May 2008. Not only has the statue been cleaned and repatinated, but a replacements have been made for the royal sceptre and the cross form the orb which have been missing for many years. More pictures in our King Edward VII feature.
Mrs Rylands on the Radio
The BBC Radio 4 programme Woman's Hour on 3 April featured the John Rylands Library and its exhibition about Enriqueta Rylands, featuring interviews with members of the Library staff. You can hear it on the BBC's Listen Again website. - 6 April
Spruce-up for King Edward
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This picture, taken by
John Lynch on 27 February 2008, shows Cassidy's King Edward VII in Whitworth
Park, Manchester shrouded in scaffolding and plastic
sheets. Planned conservation work includes cleaning, repatination, and, we are very pleased to hear, replacement of the King's lost sceptre and the cross from his orb. Expected date of completion is the end of April 2008. Our King Edward VII page has been updated with new pictures, quotes and background information. |
Notes from readers, 25 Feb 2008
Thanks to Philip Dunkerley for setting us right on the meaning of 'meterly fause' (Rochdale feature).
Our site also features in a discussion of a quiz question on the Manchester Community Forum. Not the first time Ben Brierley has been mistaken for Abraham Lincoln: David Huk, in his book on Brierley, tells how he got the same answer from some passers-by when examining Cassidy's Brierley statue in Queen's Park.
Mrs Rylands exhibition in Manchester
The John Rylands Library, Manchester, have a new exhibition, curated by
Library archivist Elizabeth Gow, about the life and times of Mrs
Rylands, who commissioned the Library and its statues. The exhibition,
entitled 'Enriqueta Rylands: Who do you think she was?' includes much
detail about her life, and the building of the Library. A small statue
of her by John Cassidy, normally kept in the 'readers only' part of the
Library, is on display, as well as a picture of an early design for one
of the Library's Cassidy works. The booklet accompanying the exhibition
is excellent, and free of charge. The exhibition is open until May
2008; this seems to be a very good time for the Cassidy enthusiast to
visit Manchester - see also the item below.See the Library's website for visitor information.
Cassidy and Hallé 150
The exhibition commemorating 150 years of the Hallé Orchestra, in the Local Studies Library of Manchester Central Library, St Peters Square (opposite the Metrolink station) includes, as well as various Hallé memorabilia and displays on the history of the orchestra, the small bronze by (approx. 70cm high) statue of the founder, Sir Joseph Hallé, which is normally kept in the Principal's Office of the Royal Northern College of Music.
This was, according to the caption, presented to the College of Music by Mrs Walter Beer. (Walter Beer (1874-1915) was an engineer with the firm of Maxwell and Tuke of Manchester.) The exhibition is open until 1 March: see the Library website for opening hours.
There is a bust of Hallé, also by Cassidy, on permanent display in the foyer of the nearby Bridgewater concert hall, the home of the Hallé Orchestra. Sadly, though, there is no sign yet of Cassidy's statue 'Adrift' making its promised re-appearance in the Peace Garden near the Library, having been removed from Piccadilly Gardens some years ago when an ugly office building was allowed to be built on part of that valuable green space.
John Rylands Library, Manchester re-opened
The John Rylands Library in Deansgate, Manchester re-opened on 14 May 2007 on completion of restoration and extension work, so it is again possible to view the Cassidy sculptures which are such a feature of this historic neo-gothic building.The new extension includes an interesting gift shop and café, and the first exhibition in the historic reading room is about the Library's sculptures, which include a series of statues by Robert Bridgeman representing famous scholars of the past, as well as Cassidy's works.
There are some videos available online of BBC TV items about the re-opening of the Library: a short video from the opening day can be viewed on the BBC site.
There's also an interesting BBC report from last year to be found on YouTube.
The John Rylands Library is open seven days a week except Good Friday, Easter Sunday and between Christmas and New Year. Opening hours are 10:00 - 17:00, except Tuesdays and Sundays, when the hours are 12:00 - 17:00.