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Ralph Gardner (1625-c.late 1680s) fought long and hard against the seventeenth century monopoly held on baking, brewing and shipbuilding on the Tyne by the 'tyrannical oppression' of Newcastle City Corporation. Born in Ponteland, he became a brewer in North Shields at the age of 23. At that time the Free Hostmen of Newcastle laid claim to exclusive rights of baking and brewing on the Tyne and brought a legal action against Gardner in 1650. He was heavily fined and thrown into jail, though he was never taken to trial. He eventually escaped in 1652. Gardner was recaptured after a fight, escaped and was recaptured once more. He published an appeal to Parliament, 'England's Grievance Discovered in Relation to the Coal Trade', but was thwarted by Cromwell's dissolution of the Long Parliament. He eventually gained his freedom again and may have returned to the area before probably joining the Horse Guards, after which nothing is known of his fate.
The monument is a tapering sandstone obelisk on a square pedestal made from stone walling. It was erected after a public subscription was raised by T.T. Clark. It was built by Shotton Brothers to Park's design and is sited where Gardner's cottage stood until being demolished in 1948.
Congratulations to 'delevalstarters' for being the first to find this cache! Second place: 'the youngest ones'. Third place: 'JurnZ'.