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Transporting granite blocks for King Alfreds statue to Penryn Station, Penryn, Cornwall. 1901

Transporting granite blocks for King Alfreds statue to Penryn Station, Penryn, Cornwall. 1901



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Royal Cornwall Museum

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Transporting granite blocks for King Alfreds statue to Penryn Station, Penryn, Cornwall. 1901

Fowler traction engines 7974 and 9016 are pictured hauling blocks of granite from one of the Mabe quarries to Penryn Station, for onward transportation by train to Winchester, Hampshire. The nearest engine bears a plate with PENRYN. The engines were owned by the granite merchants Freemans of Penryn who supplied two large granite blocks, one of 54 tons and one of 48 tons, to form the pedestal and base for the statue of King Alfred the Great in Winchester. The statue was designed by Sir William Hamo Thornycroft and stands at the eastern end of The Broadway, close to the site of the citys medieval East Gate. Photographer: Unknown

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TRURI : VMmbe.4

Media ID 18949408

© From the collection of the RIC

Building Chains Chisel Craftsmen Extraction Granite Hammer Labour Labourers Mabe Mineral Quarries Quarrying Road Stone Trade Transport Work Freeman Haulage Sons


FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS

> Arts > Artists > D > Alfred > Related Images

> Europe > United Kingdom > England > Cornwall > Penryn

> Europe > United Kingdom > England > Hampshire > Winchester

> Royal Cornwall Museum > Mining > Quarrying

> Transportation > Trains


EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in history - the transportation of massive granite blocks for King Alfred's statue. Taken in 1901, the image showcases two powerful Fowler traction engines, numbered 7974 and 9016, diligently hauling these colossal stones from Mabe quarries to Penryn Station in Cornwall. The engine closest to us proudly displays a plate with "PENRYN" symbolizing its connection to this vibrant town. The engines belonged to Freemans of Penryn, esteemed granite merchants who played an integral role in supplying materials for the majestic statue of King Alfred the Great in Winchester, Hampshire. Two mammoth granite blocks weighing an astonishing 54 tons and 48 tons were meticulously transported by train from Penryn Station to their final destination. These monumental stones would form the pedestal and base upon which Sir William Hamo Thornycroft's masterpiece would stand. In this snapshot frozen in time, we witness the sheer strength and determination of laborers as they navigate treacherous roads with chains securing these immense loads. The skilled craftsmen employed chisels and hammers to shape each block into perfection before embarking on this arduous journey. Through this photograph, we are granted a glimpse into Cornwall's rich mineral extraction industry - a testament to hard work, dedication, and ingenuity that shaped our architectural heritage.

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