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Rail rogue who fired up city may get statue
Written by Jonathan Malory   

Yorkshire Post Today

Paul Jeeves
A MEMORIAL to one of York's most influential historical characters could move a step closer next week to being placed on the industrial landscape he helped create.
York Council is due to consider creating a statue to George Hudson, dubbed The Railway King, on the York Central development site, which has been earmarked for a major regeneration programme to include offices, retail and housing in the heart of the city.
A request for the memorial has been put forward by John Rathmell, who runs the Clerestory Railway Museum at his home off Rawcliffe Lane in York.
Mr Rathmell said: "George Hudson was responsible for bringing the railways to York, as well as wealth, prosperity and jobs.
"He may have had a reputation as being something of a rogue, but it should not be forgotten what he did for the city.
"If we celebrate the 400th anniversary of Guy Fawkes' attempt to blow up Parliament, surely we should have some kind of statue to George Hudson?"
Hudson was a Yorkshire countryman who, after coming to York as a draper's assistant, received a large inheritance from a distant relative and decided to invest in the new North Midland Railway.
The venture was a success and Hudson began plans to bring cheap coal to York by railway to help the city catch up with the industrial boom towns of West Yorkshire.
Working with George Stephenson, he opened the first railway connecting York to the Leeds and Selby line in 1839. By 1841 York was linked all the way to London.
He opened the line from York to Newcastle in 1844, by which time he owned over 1,000 miles of track, gaining the title The Railway King.
Hudson was also an MP and held a series of political positions in the city including those of councillor in 1835 and alderman the following year before becoming Lord Mayor in 1837.
However, the railways investment bubble burst, profits fell and investigations began into Hudson's corrupt business practices and his misuse of shareholders' money.
He was forced to resign from his companies and in 1866 found himself in the debtors prison now occupied by York Castle Museum. A monument planned in his day was cancelled.
Despite Hudson's personal decline, his achievements established York as an important railway city with his legacy providing the foundations for the modern industry in the city to thrive.
York Council's executive member and advisory panel for leisure and heritage will be asked to consider the proposed memorial during a meeting next Monday. If agreed, the concept will be put to the York Central Team for consideration as part of the master-planning process for the redevelopment.
 
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