Bath’s former Mayor and Council ‘Heritage Champion’ Bryan Chalker is on the commemoration war path once again. He’s speaking up for Stothert and Pitt – once the city’s biggest industrial employer.
Not content with persuading Crest Nicholson to instal a Bath-built steam-driven crane – as part of its Riverside residential development of the company’s former factory site – Bryan wants to crowd fund a plaque to remember where Stothert and Pitt had its first industrial complex – and that’s under part of the Southgate Shopping Centre.
He’s already succeeded in raising funds to instal a plaque in the complex and that has S and P connections too. It marks the home of a Bath-born woman who went on to be the oldest living survivor of the sinking of the Titanic.
‘Winnie’ Troutt – who died in America in 1984 – survived the 1912 disaster. The luxury liner – which lies at the bottom of the Atlantic – was equipped with lifting gear manufactured in Bath by the ‘ crane makers to the world.’
Bryan has sent me an image showing how the plaque might look and the information it would contain.
He explained:
“This will be the overall design, subject to fine-tuning for casting.
The plaque will be cast in aluminium, with white lettering on a black background and measure approximately 300mm x 490mm.
The cost, including final art-work, will be £595 and I will need public support again, if at all possible.”
We’ll have to see how generous Bathonians are won’t we – and how many would like this important piece of local industrial history marked in this way.
Great idea, but why all in capitals when upper and lower case is much quicker to read?
Bryan’s taken on board what you suggest. The plaque will be upper and lower case!