INTRODUCTION xlix

drawings shown at it, enabled the Committee to build a permanent “Ruskin Museum,” attached to the Coniston Institute. This was opened in August 1901, and has become a haunt of hero-worshippers in the Lake District.¹

Another memorial was a village library, art gallery, and museum at Mr. Cadbury’s model village at Bournville, near Birmingham. This scheme originated with the Ruskin Society of that city. The foundation-stone was laid by Lord Avebury in October 1902.²

Ruskin desired, as we have seen, to rest with his parents in Shirley Churchyard, in the event of his dying at Herne Hill. On the granite tombstone which Ruskin had inscribed in memory of his father and his mother,³ Mrs. Severn added on the north side this inscription to the son:-

John Ruskin

Son of John James Ruskin

And Margaret his wife

Who wrote thus of his parents

And ever spoke truth

Was born in London Feb. 8th 1819

Died at Brantwood Jan. 20th 1900

And rests in Coniston Churchyard.

In the Church of St. Paul’s, Herne Hill, a monumental tablet was also erected to Ruskin’s memory. This was designed by Messrs. Farmer and brindley, approved by Sir William Richmond, and unveiled by Mr. Holman Hunt on Ruskin’s Birthday, February 8, 1901.⁴ The placing of a monument in this church was appropriate, for Ruskin was much interested in it. The church was built in 1844; burnt down in 1858, and then restored by G. E. Street. Ruskin refers to it in one of his lectures.⁵ Another local scheme which was promoted in part as a memorial to Ruskin was the acquisition-by grants from municipal bodies and by public subscription-of a “Ruskin Park”

¹ It has been visited by some 9000 persons in each year.

² See the Times, October 23, 1902.

³ See Vol. XVII. p. lxxvii., and Vol. XXII. p. xxiv.

⁴ The inscription on the tablet is as follows: “John Ruskin, M. A., D. C. L., LL. D. Born in Bloomsbury, 8 Feb. 1819. Brought to 28 Herne Hill by his parents in 1823, he dwelt on Herne and Denmark Hill for 50 years. His later days were chiefly lived upon the shore of Coniston Lake. Yet under the roof where he grew up he had a home in this Parish to the end, the house having passed into the possession of his cousin and adopted daughter Joan and her husband Arthur Severn. Died at Brantwood, 20 Jan., Buried at Coniston, 25 Jan. 1900. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies.”

⁵ See Vol. XVI. p. 463.

XXXV. d

[Version 0.04: March 2008]