Summary
Sandstone funerary monument, c.1882.
Reasons for Designation
The monument to Thomas George Ashford and Henry Berg is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Artistic interest: bears good-quality sculpture which directly reflects the occupation of those commemorated;
* Historic interest: commemorates a notorious C19 theatre fire and the bravery of the two firemen whose lives it claimed;
* Setting: it is located within the Grade I registered Highgate Cemetery and has group value with other listed tombs and structures nearby.
History
Theatre fires were very common in late C19 because of the gas lamps used to light the stage. In 1881/82 Captain Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, was requested to conduct an inspection of theatres and make recommendations for their protection. Shortly after Shaw completed his report, the Alhambra Theatre in Leicester Square was destroyed in a major fire, during which two of Shaw’s men were killed by a falling wall.
Details
The monument takes the form of a high square plinth surmounted by a simple cross with fireman’s tools in high relief; these include a helmet, a belt, two nozzles and two axes with covered blades. The original inscription was carved straight onto the plinth and is now illegible. The current inscription, on a granite plaque mounted over the original, commemorates only the more senior of the two firemen: ‘Thomas George Ashford, Assistant Officer stationed at Southwark, died as a result of injuries sustained at the Alhambra Theatre Fire 1882’. The original inscription read as follows: ‘In memory of First Class Fireman Thomas George Ashford, aged 34 years, and Fourth Class Fireman Henry Berg, aged 24 years, of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, who both died from the effects of the injuries they received at the burning of the Alhambra Theatre Leicester Square on the 7th December 1882. This memorial was erected by their Officers, comrades and friends to commemorate the loss of two good men, whose lives were sacrificed by their devotion to their duty.’
Sources
Books and journals Websites http://www.british-history.ac.uk
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official list entry
