Colourised – Edwardian Grimsby; Smethurst Memorial, People’s Park printed c1920.

A Valentine image registered in 1907 and reproduced some years later. Scanned from an original c1920 book plate.

The Smethurst Memorial obelisk is a Grade II listed structure made from limestone. It was created c1892 by Robert William Ray of 23 Osborne Street, Grimsby. The inscription below reads: ALDERMAN HENRY SMETHURST JP/ MAYOR OF GRIMSBY 1886 & 1887/ CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOLBOARD 1880-1889/ BORN 1819 DIED 1892. Right side inscribed: AN EARNEST AND SUCCESSFUL WORKER/ IN THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH/ AND IN THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE FOR MORE/ THAN FIFTY YEARS. Left side inscribed: HIS FELLOW CITIZENS RAISED THIS MONUMENT TO COMMEMORATE THEIR APPRECIATION OF HIS CHARACTER, AS WELL IN HIS PRIVATE AS PUBLIC LIFE.

Henry Smethurst, a leading figure in Grimsby, owned the port’s largest fleet of fishing smacks. Peoples Park, landscaped with a lake, trees, flower beds etc., was presented to the town by Lord Heneage in 1883.