Memorial: M5565

Memorial at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead commemorating professional oarsman, James Renforth d. 1871

Location

Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England

Transcript

'IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH', 'ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION/TO THE MEMORY OF / JAMES RENFORTH, OF GATESHEAD; CHAMPION SCULLER OF THE WORLD / WHO DIED AUGUST 23RD 1871, AGED 29 YEARS / WHILE ROWING AN INTERNATIONAL BOAT RACE / BETWEEN THE ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CREWS / ON THE KENNEBECASSIS RIVER NEAR ST JOHNS NB'.

Details

Description: Two seated rowers in a boat. Renforth (who died of a heart attack), supported by a bearded Harry Kelly. The boat sits on a sarcophagus, decorated with relief stars and rampant lions.
Type: Monument
Position: Outside
Materials: Sandstone
Date Erected: 1871
Artists: George Burns

People

renforth, James
Age: 29
Date of Death: 23/8/1871
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Oarsman
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: The memorial was moved from Gateshead East Cemetery where Renforth was buried and re-erected in a safer location in 1992.
Bibliography: Paul Usherwood, Jeremy Beach, Catherine Morriss 'Public Sculpture in North-East England' (Liverpool UP, 2000).
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