Now and Then © John Kerrigan 2005

 

Locations in North Liverpool, as they are today, and  their links to past events

                                   

 

 

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Walton Park Cemetery

 

 

The famous 19^th century book -  'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' was written by Robert Noonan in 1910.

Noonan signed it 'Robert Tressell', for fear of reprisals, but he failed to find a publisher. That August, he set off to Liverpool, supposedly to make arrangements for him to emigrate to Canada. In November, after he was admitted to the Royal Liverpool Infirmary on 3 February 1911 a telegram informed his daughter that he had died of 'cardiac failure'. Adelaide, Mary Jane, and another sister, Ellen, who lived in Liverpool, evidently did not get involved in the funeral arrangements, and Robert seems to have had no insurance.    

 

 

 

 

 

Consequently, Robert Noonan was buried in Walton Park Cemetery, opposite Walton Gaol, in a 'public grave', along with twelve other paupers. The name of the cemetery was not known until 1968, and the grave was not located until 1970. It remained unmarked until 1977, and today the gilding has almost weathered away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The author of this classic book is Robert Noonan, ( aka Robert Tressell ). His book 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists' is a classic novel of humour and sharply observed characterisation.

 

It is also the first truly imaginative portrayal of life written from a working-class perspective, and a passionate defence of socialist ideals.

 

It was recently voted 'most influential book' in a survey of Labour MPs in the New Statesman

 

 

 

 

Biographic details click:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Tressell

 

 

 

E-mail address    john-kerrigan@blueyonder.co.uk

 

Map of Walton Park -   maps.uk. Walton Park

 

Updated :  8^th  December  2007

 

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