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Monument to Timothy Trow, London Road, Boothen
looking south along London Road - the canal was
to the left of the photo
Coronation Gardens were opened in 1953 (named after the coronation
of Queen Elizabeth II) along the line of the old Newcastle Canal,
which was long ago filled in.
"Imagine
the scene in 1894. In those days London Road was a cobbled highway,
resounding to the screech of steam-trams as they slowed to a halt near
this spot. Between pavement and water's edge were iron railings and a
row of tall trees. As a tram drew close at 4 o'clock, one April
afternoon, its young conductor heard screams coming from the canal. He
looked up and, seeing a little girl, terrified and flailing
desperately to stay afloat, wasted no time in vaulting the railings
and plunging into the chill water to her rescue. By fate's
intervention, he was tragically seized by a violent cramp and sank
like a stone to the bottom. The child was later pulled out
alive."
The inscription reads:
"Erected by Public
Subscription in grateful memory of Timothy Trow, Tram Conductor, aged
21 years, who lost his life by drowning, near this spot in an heroic
attempt to save that of a child. April 13th 1894."
photos: Nov 2000
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