Statue of Richard Oastler (1869) in Bradford City centre, Bradford, UK.
He was a humanitarian, inspired to help factory children from working cruelly long hours for small wages, but did so in the face of massive opposition from the exploitative factory owners and to the detriment of his own health. From 1820-1838, Oastier was steward at Fixby Hall, Huddersfield. During this time he continually spoke and campaigned for improvements in factory legislation. One of the chief spokesmen for the Ten Hours Bill, Oastler worked tirelessly. In 1836 his health broke down and he was dismissed by his employer accused of embezzlement. He was fined, convicted and reduced to a debtor's prison. In reality, his dismissal was the result of his concern for helping the very people his landowner employer was exploiting. Friends paid his debts and he was later vindicated. The Bradford memorial to Richard Oastler was the result of a national subscription, and since most of the donations came from Bradford and oastler's close association with Yorkshire, Bradford was considered the most suitable site for a commemorative statute. The figure was cast from 3 tons of bronze and cost £l,500. Significantly, the Earl of Shaftesbury, one of the great reformers for better conditions for children unveiled the statue. The sculptor, John Bimie Philip trained in London and first worked in Augustus Pugin's wood carving department working on the Houses of Parliament. His ability to harmonise sculpture with architecture can further be seen on the Albert Memorial at Hyde Park, London. He became one of the key sculptors commissioned by major towns to carry out commemorative public sculpture. His representation of oastler is a sympathetic portrayal of a man appealing to the people to look at the suppression of factory children. A boy and girl stand almost engulfed by his size, wearing working clothes and clogs. The sculptor's signature can be seen on oastler's right and the side by the children, the founder's stamp, H. Prince & Co., Southwark.
Size: 3421px × 5111px
Photo credit: © Dave Cameron / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: bradford, oastler, richard, statue
