Taphophile tragics: Man of York
Linked to the Tuesday Taphophile tragics run by Julie at the Sydney Eye. This is not an overtly tragic tale though (nor a cemetery or graveyard as per Taphophile tragics regulations, sorry...). The memorial bench plaque by the Macclesfield canal in Cheshire celebrates a long and full life, of one Joseph Outhwaite from York who lived 90 years until October 2009, and was a man who "loved the countryside and cruising the canals."
The surname sounded rather northern English to me, and so it is. It's of Anglo-Saxon origin and is found particularly in the northern counties of England, especially Yorkshire, where there was a marked Scandinavian influence. "Outhwaite" or "Owthwaite" are locational surnames and derive from a place believed to have been situated not far from Ilkley in West Yorkshire.
Creating memorial plaques on mountains with views or by water seems to be a growing choice for those who wish a memory to linger! We have a large number of seats overlooking Dromana beach with little plaques and others on top of Arthurs Seat mountain in Seawinds Garden overlooking Port Phillip Bay. Very interesting post!
ReplyDeleteCruising the Canals is a wonderful title. I would imagine there is a book about him.
ReplyDeleteA lovely, bucolic photo, and a nice story. I wouldn't mind cruising those canals 'til I reached the ripe old age of 90 (which ain't that far off!)...but I guess I'd rather play golf in Florida!
ReplyDelete:-)
perhaps his old friends along the canal wave to his bench (and those sitting thereon) as they cruise by... I'd like to think so.
ReplyDeleteI love your angle on the first one. Very creative!
ReplyDeleteI think honoring someone with a bench is really nice. Probably gets more visitors there than at the grave.
I like the composition of this shot. The bench is a nice memorial to a life well lived.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the perfect memorial place for someone who loved the canals so much Chrissy, great find.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Cheshire Ring was a favourite round trip for Mr Outhwaite?
ReplyDeleteThe best place to remember him....the place that he loved.
ReplyDeleteI love benches and this picture is outstanding! You are so creative and I like so much the angle and the beautiful view, very well composed!
ReplyDeleteLéia
I like the idea of spending time in a place that the deceased found inspirational or comforting.
ReplyDeleteI like these memorial seats placed in spots the deceased particularly loved. Its a lovely way of remembering them.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an issue withthis style of post either, so off yer knees,wench!!
ReplyDeleteI have a photo of a bench remembering someone washed to his death. Must drag it out. Have used it but maybe not on Sydney Eye. Cannot remember.
Now a question. You titled your post 'Man of York' Can you tell me, WAS there a Grand Old Dukr of York? If so, come his men got stuck half way up?
oops ... fill in all those missing bits, pulease ,,,
ReplyDeleteJulie, I think Deb at "Ginnels, Gates and Ghosts" the daily York photo blog is best placed but yes, there were (and still is)real Dukes of York. And the nursery rhyme named after them means a futile attenmpt to do something.
ReplyDeleteThree main contenders are:
Richard, Duke of York (1411–1460), who was defeated at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460.
James II (1633–1701), formerly Duke of York , who in 1688 marched his troops to Salisbury Plain to resist the invasion from his son-in-law William of Orange, only to retreat and disperse them as his support began to evaporate.
The most common attribution is to Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763–1827)
A lovely spot to be remembered in, and it provides a place for passersby to sit and enjoy the view. Hmm...somewhere I've got a photo of a marker that's a stone bench with inscriptions on it.
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