Statue of John the Pieman

Sited in Ashton-under-Lyne

The statue of John the Pieman is situated in the market square of Ashton-under-Lyne. Towards the end of the 1800s the catering trade in the area ranged form smart eating places like 'The Lounge' to 'Uncle John', the pieman.

John started working life as a collier but later branched out into catering when he opened a restaurant in Market Street, Ashton, and also sold his pies at local football matches. John was well known for his generosity in providing free meals during bad times such as the Cotton Famine in 1861-1865, he would have undoubtably been a welcome sight for the miners and cotton workers of the town. He died in December 1906.

Ashton has had a market for over 700 years and was an important market centre for the surrounding area. As industries developed there during the nineteenth century, the market expanded to serve the growing population. The Market Hall was started in 1829 and was extended several times.

Sadly, in May 2004, the historic building was gutted by fire, everything in the building was destroyed. More than a hundred small businesses had stalls inside. A new, temporary 'Pheonix' Market Hall has been opened but it is hoped that the historic hall can be restored and brought back into use.

Ashton-Under-Lyne is still famous to this day for its pies, and friends meet up there to share a pie rather than tea and scones.

The 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 pies underneath.