The Shrubsole Memorial
Francis John Williamson (1833-1920)
1882
Carrara marble on a Cornish granite pedestal with basin, inscription, and portrait medallion
Market Place, Kingston-upon-Thames, London
The Shrubsole Memorial commemorates Henry Shrubsole, whose family's fortunes followed an unusual trajectory, from undertaking and drapery to banking. Shrubsole himself was three times Mayor of Kingston, dying in office in 1880. In this tableau, a gracefully-robed woman carries an urn on one shoulder and is holding the hand of a little boy, who crouches to gather water in a little bowl. Although the woman's face is weathered, the general effect remains unspoilt. The memorial is one of the pleasantest features of this lovely old market place.
Photograph, caption and commentary by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2009/10