friends of stanton road cemetery ilkeston the ilkeston giant 1816-1875

FRIENDS OF STANTON ROAD
CEMETERY
ILKESTON
THE ILKESTON GIANT
SAMUEL TAYLOR
SAMUEL TAYLOR
1816-1875

Samuel Taylor, who grew to a height of 7 feet 4 ½ inches, was born in Little Hallam, Ilkeston, in 1816
to a farming family. According to newspaper accounts of the period, his father was also a tall man,
being six feet nine inches tall but his mother was the reverse, being only five feet.
Because of his height, Samuel found it difficult to find work in Ilkeston, and, at the age of sixteen, he
went to Castle Donington statutes, intending to find employment in service. Whilst there, he attended
a show exhibiting a “giant”, expecting to see a man of about fourteen feet in height, but, in his own
words:
“I entered the exhibition – a curtain was drawn, and discovered a man perhaps about six feet three.
All eyes were turned upon me. I stood beside the giant and made him look very insignificant. He didn’t
seem much to like the comparison. When I was leaving the showman tapped me on the shoulder and
wished to speak to me – would I accept of an engagement to travel, and be exhibited as a giant? I
laughed at the idea; however, handsome terms were offered me, and I accepted the situation,
regretting at the same time that I had to supplant, as well as succeed, the giant I had just seen. He was
much chagrined at my intrusion, as he called it; became very violent, and struck me. Now I was quite
a youth, only sixteen and he a man of thirty. I had never fought, and always inclined to be peaceable,
but the blow seemed to arouse the man within me; I madly attacked my rival, and notwithstanding his
superior weight and strength, I succeeded in making him cry peccavi.”
Thus began Samuel Taylor’s travelling show business career. He travelled with this establishment for
a while until he became connected with an establishment in which the owner’s daughter exhibited as a
glass blower. Harriet Reader and Samuel soon became attracted to each other but Harriet’s father
objected strongly to the match, resulting in them eloping when the exhibition was at Arbroath,
Scotland.
Fortunately, Samuel was ultimately welcomed into the family, and the couple married in Montrose. A
year later they went into business themselves but when that did not prove successful, Samuel tried
railway excavating. When this also failed, they set up a travelling show again and then changed course
altogether by running a public house in Manchester. However, the pull of show business life was too
strong and the family re-entered the travelling show circuit.
One of Samuel’s extraordinary feats included being able to harness his horse completely while
standing on one side of it. He simply bent over the animal while fastening the harness on the other
side.
The newspaper the Ilkeston Pioneer describes the Taylor’s show:
Many people remember for several winters in succession that the exhibition of Samuel Taylor, the
Ilkeston Giant was located on the Junction for three to four months. The show was open two or three
times a week. The programme included “glass blowing by Mrs Taylor” the showing of more or less
wild animals followed by dissolving views, mainly descriptive of the Crimean War and last but not
“least” by any means, the appearance of the giant himself. His height was seven feet and four inches
and the tallest gentleman in the company was always invited to come forward and stand underneath
his outstretched arm.

Nine children in total were born to Samuel and Harriet but only two sons reached adult life. Samuel,
born around 1845 in Ilkeston, was a part of the show run by his parents and married Louisa Proctor, a
member of another famous show family. It is unknown whether they had any children. When Samuel
junior died in 1888, aged 42 (he is also buried in the family grave), his brother William married his
widow, Louisa.
William, born around 1855 in Kingston-on-Thames, became a
famous bioscope presenter. In 1907, he purchased the most lavish of all the cinematograph shows to
exhibit films to the fairgoing public, the new Cinema de Luxe, and regularly exhibited at the
prestigious St. Gile’s Fair in Oxford.
Death of the Giant
Samuel Taylor died at the age of 59 in Manchester Infirmary, after suffering a fractured thigh. The
Erewash Valley Telegraph reports:
The last time he passed the Ilkeston Cemetery, he remarked what a beautiful place it was and that, in
case of anything happening to him, he should like to be buried there. Accordingly, his corpse was
brought from Manchester to Ilkeston where Ilkeston Brass Band, as a token of respect, met them at the
station and played mournful music through the streets which the procession passed. The body was
taken to the Independent Chapel, and from thence to the Cemetery, where it was interred amidst the
muffled peal of bells, the dull beat of the drum, and the solemn strains of the “Dead March in Saul.”
With thanks to Professor Vanessa Toulmin, National Fairground Archive and Ilkeston Reference Library.

The following poem was funded by Derbyshire County Council for the Ilkeston Arts Festival in 2008
(www.ilkestonfestival.co.uk) and written by local poet Dave Wood (davewrite2002[at]yahoo.com).
the yew tree of ilkeston
a giant 'bout seven foot five
called samuel (no longer alive)
woke up one day
from out of the clay
and decided he needed a stride
first words were 'ey up mi duck
ah-rait? come reply wi' a look
ow were startled to bits
and left sam in fits
of laughter that dug in like hooks
he popped in museum t'see
what's app'nin' wi' town's history
wi' height on this bloke
worra bit on a joke
but he got in f'' nowt (and for free!)
face t' face wi' a sculptured brown rat
he pondered and took off his hat
as he combed through his beard
an assistant appeared
said 'ey up - ah''ll tell you baht that
so he did then sam told his tale
ah thought that thee looked a bit pale
try a pub around here
we're not short o' beer
said assistant (you guessed - he was male)
and sam said he missed this old place
he remembered its charm and the grace
and pride in the town
and its fair was the crown
once a year - folk thought it was ace
is it still going? asked sam
you bet - and sam clapped his hands
year twelve fifty-two!
it's still going true
you should hear the noise from its fans
now - you might want t'change - fella said
if you don't mind me saying - being dead
you've got quite a pong
and you wouldn't go wrong
wi' a wash and a sponge round your neck
ah'll do that - then go for a drink
it you're sayin' it's true that ah stink
observart'ry's near
and there's others round here
said assistant wi' a nod and a wink
outside - by alleyway at square
market were on - selling pairs
of socks and of pants
so he took up his chance
and walked through wi' nowt but a care

what size?! said the man at the stall
by 'eck - we'd struggle that tall
you could sew on a bit
and maybe 't 'll fit
you're bigger than any barn door
sam gave up on that and instead
walked round to stretch out his legs
there were fruit stalls and 'phones
bananas and bones
and bookstalls and hens' and ducks' eggs
now sam were amazed what they'd got
he remembered this old market spot
and back in his day
it wor lively wi' play
then he heard 'bout plans it had got
we're proud of us market - us folks
our customers (women and blokes)
and our stallholders' smiles
they stretch out for miles
like we've bin told the funniest joke
there's whisperings here going on
our stalls may be soon enough gone
will you sign our petition?
we're in a collision
it's like they've taken our favourite song
sam thought of the old market stalls
as he sat on a nearby wall
he got chatting with lads
and grannies and dads
and girls (cuddling tight to their dolls)
there was lots to be said from this lot
there were thoughts and some history (in pots!)
they rambled along
about ilkeston
he let them go on 'till they stopped
i wish i could fly one did say
i like to walk 'long nutbrook way
i once worked at stanton
now memories cling on
and look at my hair - how it's grey
you know il's'on was once a spa town?
hence bath street (goes up and goes down)
had railways and trains
now we seem to have waned
duke of rutland must be clawing the ground
i collect up the acorns like medals
i once had a toy car with pedals
i sometimes get cross
but i've stopped that because
it was like i was stuck on a treadle
some pipes stanton made - we exported
and during the war we supported
there was smoke that was thick
the airplanes were tricked
missed factory - so bombings were thwarted
i'm kirk hallam - from just o'er there
i'm cotmanhay and i love the fair
where there's hot dogs and onions
(my grandma got bunions)
by the end there's no cash to spare

more gathered around samuel's knees
told of wishes and hopes and of dreams
one offered a chip
and a drink (just a sip)
and chattered like rattling keys
have you tasted a curry or pizza?
or thai food or a good pint of bitter?
sam considered this stuff
he replied (off the cuff)
that it's lovely now i can greet ya
but you see from my clothes - i've been dead
i got up (my head felt like lead)
i'm a giant you see
and between you and me
i got bored of staying in bed
if you measure - i'm seven foot...more
(the kids and adults cried cor)
my money's from those
who watched my stiff pose
as i stood in the sideshows before
o i see - said the curious crowd
so they took him around and about
showed library and hall
the co-op and all
the scala - the church and their doubts
the doubts? asked our sam when he heard
yes - we're troubled they said – and we're feared
that our old reputation
has hit degradation
as they chatted - they tugged at his beard
show me more - sam said - show me more
it's been ages - i wish i had called
you before this had happened
though i feel quite flattered
you told me you were all out of sorts
show me where you go swimming and play
victoria baths - o i say
and what about tennis
and cricket and any
walks along old heanor way?
o - the cop shop - there's paths round the side
you can pedal to stabbo' on bike
but allotments are going
no seeds more a-sowing
there's houses buildin' up far and wide
said the giant - i still really stink
i'm unwashed - and could do with a sink
we'll take him t' bogs
said a lad wi' a dog
sam accepted (no needing to think)
he scrubbed up quite nicely – quite clean
though his pallor was drab and has-been
the local beautician
made it her mission
to make him the sweetest they'd seen
the bennerley viaduct still up?
o aye said an old bloke - tut tut
it's not looking well
it's like an old shell
you can see it from school - full o' rust

so how do you travel about?
on buses - they''ll not charge you owt
you look fairly old
and if you're quite bold
y' can ask 'em or give 'em a clout
sam chortled and got on the bus
said thanks to the kids (acting tough)
the driver just laughed
at the shoppers aghast
that's nothing to what i've seen mi duck
there's swans wander out in the front
and cats sit and wait like they're drunk
there's kids at kirk hallam
and whatever you tell 'em
they open the back like a trunk
now then - you look like old sam
the gentlest giant - yes i am
so sam squeezed on in
wi' the widest of grins
and nattered with someone called pam
getting off at the park were some seats
that went round and round - worra treat!
the blue roundabout
had dizzied him out
and he waivered as he got to his feet
so there at the green granby park
he harked to the cries of dog's barks
and sweet sound of birdcall
had him totally enthralled
when he noticed it was getting quite dark
he missed the days when he lived
so he wondered if owt he could leave
behind for the town
would be passed on and down
by the sculpture - he pictured a tree
the tree is a yew - that's the one
to grow with our daughters and sons
and their children and more
then more by the score
symbolic and infinite - done!
he told his ideas to the kids
said this is the notion - let's dig
on that piece of land
the kids said that's grand
now what stands in that space will grow big
and bigger and bigger and tall
and regenerate and not fall
like us il's'on folk
tough as old boots we cope
and salt of the earth - that's our call
so old sam went back to his grave
and the tree grows as tall as the days
that grow on and on
with names etched upon
a symbol of ilkeston's ways
(the following verse was specially written by Dave to celebrate the restoration of Samuel Taylor's grave by the
Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery)
and while sam taylor sleeps on
the team (30 strong) will work on

to clear ivy and ash
(all taken to task)
the happiest ilkeston throng
copyright Dave Wood
Dedication
For some time, the memorial to Samuel Taylor was in a sorry state with three pieces lying on
the ground. The late Helen Varnam, Chairman of the Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery,
was a passionate advocate of the restoration of Samuel Taylor’s grave. She inspired the
members of the committee to press forward with plans to improve the site and the Friends
therefore dedicate this commemoration of the restoration to the memory of Helen.
About the Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery
The Cemetery on Stanton Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire is a fascinating example of a Victorian
burial ground, which was in use from 1864 until 1947 and contains the mortal remains of
many interesting Ilkestonians from all types of work and social class.
The Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery are a group of local people who believe that this site
is a special place which should be preserved and sympathetically restored and cared for.
Working in partnership with Erewash Borough Council who own the Cemetery, and
Groundwork Derby and Derbyshire, the aims of the group are:
*To assist with the restoration of the monuments and
frontage of the Cemetery.
*To keep the site tidy (current projects include cutting back
overgrown vegetation, clearing ivy and removing unwanted
Holly and Ash saplings).
*Improving access (projects have included clearing and re-
defining the entrance pathways within the Cemetery).
*Actively encouraging wildlife (projects have included the
installation of bird and bat boxes and building habitat stacks
for small creatures and insects.
*Promoting the site to the general public and as a valuable
educational resource (a sign has been installed, a
conducted tour of the Cemetery has taken place and we are
in contact with several other organisations including
Groundwork Derby and Derbyshire).
For anyone looking for information regarding burials within the Stanton Road Cemetery, a
search of the burial records can be made on request for a donation (minimum of £2) to the
Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery or £5 will give you a annual membership of the Friends.
Please be aware that for 4,737 recorded burials, there are only 283 monuments. The
majority of people buried are in an unmarked grave but we do have records for all 4,737.
For further information, please contact Esther Collington (Secretary) on telephone number
0115 8757085 or email esther.collington@ntlworld.com .
The Friends of Stanton Road website address:
www.friendsofstantonroadcemetery.btik.com