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HANNAH
'MAY' THOM
by Tommy Kelly
The statue
or fountain as it was originally was erected in 1890 by grateful parishioners of
Holy Cross in recognition of the work which she did as head of group of nurses
working in the Marybone area. First sited at the top of Marybone
facing the Ball Ally, it was then moved to the middle of Standish Street where
it remained for some years. Hannah Mary Thom was a member of the wealthy
Rathbone family who played a great part in the development of Liverpool. She
left her life of luxury to work among the sick and dying of Holy Cross parish.
Whilst
having a drink in the 'Borough' one Sunday afternoon some children came in and
told us that some men were taking the statue, Frank Gianelli, Norman Nelson and
Myself rushed out to find the statue had been pulled from the plinth to the
ground by three men, who then fled when they saw us. We carried the statue to the
church where we met Fr. Hawkes. We told him what had happened and he said we could
place the statue in the end confessional box for safe keeping, where it remained
for 3-4 years until we had it refurbished and placed in Mazenod Court. "Hannah
Mary Thom to this day, still holds the record for the longest confession at a
Holy Cross church".
January 2005
More pictures
and information:
| (1) |
(2) |
(3) |
(4) |
(5) |
| (6) |
(7) |
(8) |
(9) |
(10) |
| (11) |
(12) |
(13) |
(14) |
Hannah
May Thom, story by Margaret Donnelly (15) |
| Hannah
May Thom, story by Tom Kelly (16) |
Hannah
May Thom, story by Dolly Lloyd (17) |