The John the Pie Man statue in Ashton-under-Lyne commemorates John Harrison, the local pie seller affectionately known as Uncle John; the bronze sculpture is titled The Ashton Market Trader
Harrison is remembered for his generosity to people facing hardship in the late nineteenth century; his statue connects Ashton’s market history with the story of a familiar local trader
John the Pie Man was the third of six commissioned bronze statues created by Escar UK Bronze for Tameside Council in Greater Manchester
The statue was unveiled on 23 September 2005 by the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Jacqueline Lane
The sculpture was installed near Ashton Market Hall, at the junction of Bow Street and Market Street in Ashton-under-Lyne; it honours a well-remembered figure from the town’s history
‘Ashton’s Pie Man’ as John Harrison was also known, actually started his career as a collier but then transitioned to catering by opening a restaurant on Market Street where he became renowned for his pies, which he also sold at local football matches
The finished bronze portrays a working market trader in a flat cap and apron, carrying a basket of pies; these everyday details help establish the character of the portrait
Local accounts remember Harrison’s help for hungry people during the Lancashire Cotton Famine; the memorial plaque recognises his generosity to the poor during hard times in the late 1800s He died in 1906
This commission commemorates the real John Harrison of Ashton-under-Lyne; his identity as Uncle John gives the sculpture a personal connection with the community it represents
The portrait’s familiar clothing and basket make the subject approachable; together with its market setting, they link the bronze figure to the town’s social history
Ashton-under-Lyne has a long market tradition; a royal charter granted in 1413 forms part of the history recorded by Tameside Council
Ashton Market Hall was badly damaged by fire in May 2004; the rebuilt hall reopened in 2008, preserving its historic exterior
The market provides the setting for John Harrison’s story and for this commissioned bronze portrait; its association with trade and everyday town life helps explain the choice of subject
John the Pie Man’s statue keeps the memory of a local trader visible within Ashton’s public spaces; the project celebrates generosity, work and community life through a recognisable human figure
The finished bronze statue varies slightly from the initial Concept Drawings as it was decided that the cloth over the basket should be pulled back to reveal the delicious pies beneath
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John Harrison, affectionately known as Uncle John, was a local pie seller remembered for helping people facing hardship in the late nineteenth century; his bronze memorial is titled The Ashton Market Trader
The statue was installed near Ashton Market Hall at the junction of Bow Street and Market Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester; the location connects the portrait with the town’s trading history
The commissioned bronze statue was unveiled on 23 September 2005 by the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Jacqueline Lane; it was the third of six Tameside commissions created by Escar UK Bronze
The sculpture portrays John Harrison as a working pie seller, wearing a flat cap and apron and carrying a basket of pies; the recognisable clothing and objects connect the portrait with his everyday role in Ashton
The concept drawings by Julie Wilkinson show the initial design; in the finished bronze, the cloth covering the basket was pulled back to reveal the pies This adjustment makes the subject’s trade clearer in the completed sculpture
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