Spolasco

I had a vague recollection of some wall decoration somewhere in the Marina telling the story of someone I'd never heard of. As good an excuse as any to have a wander down a strange alleyway, and there I found it.

Who on earth was Baron Spolasco? And why did he warrant this memorial?

As far as deserving a memorial goes he probably doesn't but it's a fun tale. Except for death and murder and fraud.

So Baron Spolasco - an entirely fictitious name - was born in Gateshead around 1800. In an advert he described himself thus:

"The baron is a Licentiate Physician and Member of the Royal College of Surgeons.

"He... studied the various branches of his profession in the University of Paris, Berlin, Leyden, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin.

"He is consulted, in cases of difficulty and danger, by physicians and surgeons in all parts of the world!!!"

He was, of course, nothing of the sort. He was a quack doctor who managed to convince many to pay him well to 'cure' their ailments. He even claimed to be able to replace noses.

Before moving to Wales in 1838 he practised his trade in Ireland where he claimed to have cured thousands. He was forced to leave Ireland hurriedly and took passage with his eight-year-old son on a steamer, Killarney, bound for Bristol. 

In a violent storm the steamer was sunk off the coast of Cork. The Baron, his son, and nineteen others survived and were rescued after clinging to a steep rocky outcrop for three days, although the Baron's son did not survive the ordeal. You can read about the shipwreck and rescue in the Baron's own words here. Be warned: it's very long and self-aggrandising. 

Oh, yes, I promised you murder. 

The Baron was charged with murder/manslaughter when a young woman he had been treating died, but an expert witness cast doubt on the probability of his having caused the death and he was found not guilty.

The Baron finally died in New York having been unable to cure his own cancer.

The memorial was designed by Robin Campbell and Richard Porch, and the sculptors were Jonah Jones, Meic Watts and Brian Denman. c1985-90.