Mark Addy Bridge - Salford Completed

[Mobo]

 

Does anyone know of a list of people who were saved/drowned off the 'Mark Addy Bridge' over the River Irwell in Salford in the 1890'1900s ?

 

[skippy]

Looks like you may have to contact SALFORD LOCAL-HISTORY LIBRARY direct on this one..............Good Luck

Mark Addy (1838-1890)

Mark Addy was born in April 1838 on the Manchester side of the River Irwell next to Blackfrias Bridge in the tenement known as the Stage Buildings. At this time the river was widely used for recreation and his father made a living by hiring out pleasure and racing craft.

Mark did not learn to swim until well into his teens, but by the time of his death, in 1890, he had saved well over 50 people from drowning in the river's murky waters. While still a boy he rescued a youngster by wading into the river up to his chin and pulling the lad out. On a later occasion he floated out on a plank to save another boy from drowning.

When he married he moved into Salford and became the licensee of the Old Boathouse Inn in Everard Street, off Ordsall Lane, close to the river. By this time he was a fine swimmer and oarsman and whenever the shout went up that someone was in the river Mark never failed to appear.

His bravery did not go unrewarded, for in January 1876 he was presented with a loyal address of appreciation and a purse of 200 guineas from the grateful citizens of Salford. He had already saved 37 lives but continued to be on hand whenever help was required. For his courage he also received the Silver and Gold Medals of the Royal Humane Society for the Hundred of Salford and the Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society. To this last medal the members of the nearby Nemesis Rowing Club added a gold clasp as their personal token of appreciation. In June 1879 he received the ultimate accolade of the Albert Medal of the First Class. Mark headed a triumphant procession to the large Assembly Room at Salford Town Hall where he was presented with the medal by the Mayor of Salford, Alderman Robinson, on behalf of Queen Victoria.

On the evening Whit Monday 1889, Mark, now 51, made his final rescue. A boy had fallen into a badly polluted part of the river near to Factory Lane. Mark had to dive in three times before he successfully brought the boy safely to the bank but not before he had swallowed several mouthfulss of the filthy water. In his weakened state he contracted tuberculosis and after a long illness, died on June 9th 1890.

On June 13th he was buried in Weaste Cemetery, Salford, where a monument was erected to his memory by public subscription and unveiled by the Mayor. His portrait was placed in the Art Gallery at Peel Park and a Memorial Fund of £100 invested to provide prizes for swimming to Salford boys.

To this day he is still a legend. The Everard Street footbridge is commonly known as Mark Addy Bridge and in 1981 a new public house named The Mark Addy opened on the bank of the River Irwell on the site of the old Nemesis Rowing Club boathouse.

FURTHER READING

MANCHESTER FACES & PLACES Vol. 1 Page 172

SMITH, Alan : Salford sketches 1976 Newspaper Cuttings in the collection at SALFORD LOCAL-HISTORY LIBRARY This article was compiled by Tony Frankland; Local History Librarian, Salford and Swinton

[Mobo]

 

Thanks for that Skippy, already had the write-up on the Bridge and have contacted Salford Local History Library - but they could not help, would you believe?

Thanks again

[skippy]

A little bit more info which may help.

http://pmsa.courtauld.ac.uk/pmsa/MR/MR-SAL05.htm

Some of the info is a little more detailed so there is obviously further to be found.


Maybe an idea to contact the Mark Addy pub......they may have some newspaper clippings etc on display.
The man was obviously very famous for his rescues so, some rescued peoples names must be available somewhere.......(newspapers etc)

Might be worthwhile contacting the author of the website and/or Manchester & Salford Family History Society to check whether anyone has any more details or researched further.

There is also the 'Working Class Library' in Salford that you could try. But I think its mainly social issues/impact on society.

Another avenue (maybe) is to contact Salford University....(Someone has
poss done some research or they hold details).

I think to justify naming a bridge after someone then there must have been a formal proposal of planning permission....so that could be another aspect to explore.

If I come across any more info I'll forward it on....In the meantime.....Good Luck with your research

 

regards,

SKIPPY

[Mobo]

 

Once again, many thanks skippy for going to all this trouble - will take up your suggestions and hopefully find a reference/list to people who drowned on or near his bridge, .

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

[Mobo]

 

Thanks for the info Catherine - came across this some time ago and forgot about it.  Anyway I've posted two queries there and hopefully there will be some feedback.

Thanks again and Merry Xmas

 

[Mobo]

 

Just in case anyone has come across a list of drownings near the Mark Addy Bridge - here's a photo

 

[Mobo]

 

YIPEE DIPPY DOO - AT LAST !! 

I've found the '14 year old' ancestor who was supposed to have drowned near the Mary Addy Bridge, but like all  'family stories' it was so wrong.  Not only that, his name and age were incorrect in the records - no wonder I couldn't find him !!

This is a newspaper report of the event.

Salford Reporter - 12 Jun 1920

" FATALITY AT PLAY

Salford Boy is drowned

A sad drowning fatality occurred on Friday last in the locks of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal in Hampson Street, Salford.
Two young boys, George Morris, age 8, and John Parkinson, age 6, both of Islington  Square, Salford, were playing together on the bank of the canal when Morris fell into the water, his body being later recovered by a lamplighter.
At the inquest, which was held by the Salford Coroner (Mr A Holmes) on Tuesday at the Pendleton Town Hall, the little boy’s mother, Eliza Morris, said she left her boy playing in the street with the other child, Parkinson, about 7.55 pm on Friday.  An hour later she heard he had fallen into the water, and went to the Millburn Street Mortuary, where she identified his dead body.
The little boy, John Parkinson, said deceased was trying to get two lumps of wood out of the water when he suddenly overbalanced and fell in.
The Coroner: “What did he want the wood for?”  - “To make a boat”.
The youngster said when he saw Morris in the water he ran home to tell “some other lads to go and get him out”.
Albert Gladstone Hill, of Upper Cleminson Street, Salford, said about 9.15 pm on Friday last, he was walking along the canal bank near the locks, when a little boy said “There is a boy in the water.”  Witness asked him if he was sure and the boy replied, “Another lad saw him fall in.”
Witness said he looked round at the water in the bottom locks, but could not see any signs of life.  He walked along the towing path and then observed an object in the water.  With his lamplighting stick he reached the object and recovered the body of deceased.
Artificial respiration was tried without success.
Asked by the Coroner how far from the top of the lock the water was, he said the water would be about three feet below the bank.
A verdict of accidental death was returned ".

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How very very sad !!

 
 
           

[Su]

That is a sad story Mobo. 

There were no end of drownings in the canal in the village where I was born.  As children we were warned never to play near the water, but being children we ignored the warnings, and one day my sister and I were taking our puppy for a walk along the canal bank, when he fell in, my sister nearly went in after him, but I hung on to her leg as she managed to fish him out.  I still remember the panicky feeling.

Even today, there are too many children drowning due to them either falling in rivers, canals or lakes, or swimming in dangergous situations like quarries. 

Su