The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Robert Tressell (17 April 1870 – 3 February 1911) was the pen name of Irish writer Robert Croker, who later changed his name to Robert Noonan. He is best known for his novel The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. After leading quite an eventful life ( too complicated to go into here ) and unhappy with his life in Britain, he decided that he and his teenage daughter , Kathleen , should emigrate to Canada . However, he only reached Liverpool when he was admitted to the Royal Liverpool Infirmary Workhouse, where he died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 3 February 1911, aged 40.
He was buried in a mass grave with twelve other paupers opposite Walton workhouse in Liverpool. The location of the grave was not discovered until 1970. The plot is now marked at the cemetery at the same location, now called Rice Lane City Farm. A nearby road is named Noonan Close.
The current memorial stone was erected in 1977 by subscription sponsored by the Liverpool and Hastings Trades Councils. The wording reads "THROUGH SQUALID LIFE THEY LABOURED/ IN SORDID GRIEF THEY DIED/ THOSE SONS OF A MIGHTY MOTHER/ THOSE PROPS OF ENGLAND'S PRIDE/ THEY ARE GONE. THERE IS NONE/ CAN UNDO IT. NOR SAVE OUR SOULS/ FROM THE CURSE/ BUT MANY A MILLION COMETH/ AND SHALL THEY BE BETTER OR WORSE?/ IT IS WE MUST HASTEN AND ANSWER/ AND OPEN WIDE THE DOOR/ FOR THE RICH MAN'S HURRYING TERROR/ AND THE SLOW FOOT HOPE OF THE POOR".
In keeping with the spirit of Tressell, it was decided to record also the names of the other twelve paupers buried in the same grave.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Robert Tressell (17 April 1870 – 3 February 1911) was the pen name of Irish writer Robert Croker, who later changed his name to Robert Noonan. He is best known for his novel The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. After leading quite an eventful life ( too complicated to go into here ) and unhappy with his life in Britain, he decided that he and his teenage daughter , Kathleen , should emigrate to Canada . However, he only reached Liverpool when he was admitted to the Royal Liverpool Infirmary Workhouse, where he died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 3 February 1911, aged 40.
He was buried in a mass grave with twelve other paupers opposite Walton workhouse in Liverpool. The location of the grave was not discovered until 1970. The plot is now marked at the cemetery at the same location, now called Rice Lane City Farm. A nearby road is named Noonan Close.
The current memorial stone was erected in 1977 by subscription sponsored by the Liverpool and Hastings Trades Councils. The wording reads "THROUGH SQUALID LIFE THEY LABOURED/ IN SORDID GRIEF THEY DIED/ THOSE SONS OF A MIGHTY MOTHER/ THOSE PROPS OF ENGLAND'S PRIDE/ THEY ARE GONE. THERE IS NONE/ CAN UNDO IT. NOR SAVE OUR SOULS/ FROM THE CURSE/ BUT MANY A MILLION COMETH/ AND SHALL THEY BE BETTER OR WORSE?/ IT IS WE MUST HASTEN AND ANSWER/ AND OPEN WIDE THE DOOR/ FOR THE RICH MAN'S HURRYING TERROR/ AND THE SLOW FOOT HOPE OF THE POOR".
In keeping with the spirit of Tressell, it was decided to record also the names of the other twelve paupers buried in the same grave.