Grey's Monument

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Coordinates: 54°58′23″N 1°36′47″W / 54.973°N 1.613°W<th scope="row" style="text-align:left;"FONT-WEIGHT: bold;";">OS grid reference

Grey's Monument
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<div style=""font-size:small;";">Grey's Monument closeup

Grey's Monument Grey's Monument shown within Tyne and Wear
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List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear

Grey's Monument is a Grade I listed monument to Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey built in 1838 in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was erected to acclaim Earl Grey for the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832 and stands at the head of Grey Street. It consists of a statue of Lord Grey standing atop a 130 feet (40 m) high column. The column was designed by local architects John and Benjamin Green, and the statue was created by the sculptor Edward Hodges Baily (creator of Nelson's statue in Trafalgar Square).^[1]

The monument lends its name to Monument Metro station, a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro located directly underneath, and to the Monument Mall Shopping Centre. The surrounding area is simply known as Monument.

A spiral staircase leads to a viewing platform at the top of the monument, which is occasionally opened to the public.^[2] Old photographs indicate that the monument was originally on a traffic island and was surrounded by railings.^[3] These railings are no longer present, and the area around the monument is now pedestrianised and is home to many shops, some independent and some up-scale designer boutiques.

The wide base of the monument is a popular spot for people-watching, and often acts as a venue for buskers, religious speakers and political activists/protesters. The Maxïmo Park song By the Monument refers to Grey's Monument.

The Monument is in the Westgate electoral ward of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, and the parliamentary constituency of Newcastle upon Tyne Central.

Inscription

The main inscription^[4] on the pedestal reads:

THIS COLUMN WAS ERECTED IN 1838 TO COMMEMORATE THE SERVICES RENDERED TO HIS COUNTRY BY CHARLES EARL GREY K.G. WHO, DURING AN ACTIVE POLITICAL CAREER OF NEARLY HALF A CENTURY WAS THE CONSTANT ADVOCATE OF PEACE AND THE FEARLESS AND CONSISTENT CHAMPION OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. HE FIRST DIRECTED HIS EFFORTS TO THE AMENDMENT OF THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE IN 1792, AND WAS THE MINISTER BY WHOSE ADVICE, AND UNDER WHOSE GUIDANCE, THE GREAT MEASURE OF PARLIAMENTARY REFORM WAS AFTER AN ARDUOUS AND PROTRACTED STRUGGLE SAFELY AND TRIUMPHANTLY ACHIEVED IN THE YEAR 1832.

And on the opposite face is a later inscription:

AFTER A CENTURY OF CIVIL PEACE, THE PEOPLE RENEW THEIR GRATITUDE TO THE AUTHOR OF THE GREAT REFORM BILL. 1932.

References

↑ GRAINGER TOWN, Greys Monument, Edward Hodges Baily, retrieved 2010-07-26, "His statue by sculptor Edward Hodges Baily (also responsible for Nelson’s Column) tops a column, Grey’s Monument, of 41 metres (133ft). It has remained a favourite meeting place since it was unveiled in 1838."
↑ "It's the weekend: find your heritage!". Sunderland Echo. September 9, 2004. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
↑ Manders, Frank (1995). Newcastle upon Tyne: A Selection of the Earliest Photographs. Newcastle City Libraries and Arts. p. 31. ISBN 1-85795-017-8.
↑ Charleton, R.J. (n.d.). A history of Newcastle-on-Tyne from the earliest records to its formation as a city. London: Walter Scott Ltd.

External links

Details from listed building database (304589) - Grade I. Images of England. English Heritage.

v t e Places in Tyne and Wear

Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead	Gateshead Bensham Birtley Blaydon Carr Hill Chopwell Deckham Dunston Felling Kibblesworth Lamesley Low Fell Pelaw Rowlands Gill Ryton Sheriff Hill Team Valley Whickham Windy Nook

City of Newcastle upon Tyne	Gosforth Newcastle upon Tyne Arthurs Hill Battlefield Benwell Black Callerton Blakelaw Blucher Brunswick Byker Chapel House City Centre Cochrane Park Cowgate Coxlodge Dene Denton Denton Burn Dinnington East Denton Elswick Fairways Fawdon Fenham Great Park Haymarket Hazlerigg Heaton High Heaton Jesmond Kenton Kingston Park Lemington Manors Newburn North Kenton Ouseburn Parklands Sandyford Scotswood Shieldfield Slatyford South Gosforth Spital Tongues Throckley Walbottle Walker Walkergate Walkerville West Denton West Jesmond Westerhope Westgate Wingrove Woolsington

Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside	North Shields Wallsend Whitley Bay Backworth Beaumont Park Benton Burradon Cullercoats Earsdon Forest Hall Howdon Killingworth Longbenton Monkseaton Murton New York Preston Seaton Burn Shiremoor St Mary's Island Tynemouth Wellfield Whitley Lodge Wideopen Willington Quay

Metropolitan Borough of South Tyneside	Hebburn Jarrow South Shields The Boldons Cleadon Harton Marsden Monkton Whitburn

City of Sunderland	Hetton-le-Hole Houghton-le-Spring Sunderland Washington Ashbrooke Barnes Bishopwearmouth Burdon Carley Hill Castletown Claxheugh Cox Green Downhill Doxford Park Easington Lane East Rainton Elstob Farm Farringdon Fatfield Fence Houses Ford Estate Fulwell Gilley Law Grangetown Grindon Harraton Hastings Hill Hendon Herrington High Moorsley Hill View Hollycarrside Humbledon Hylton Castle Leechmere Marley Pots Millfield Monkwearmouth Newbottle North Haven North Hylton Pallion Pennywell Penshaw Plains Farm Rickleton Redhouse Roker Ryhope Seaburn Seaburn Dene Shiney Row Silksworth South Bents South Hylton Southwick Springwell Springwell Village Sunniside Town End Farm Thorney Close Tunstall Warden Law Witherwack

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