Memorial to Abram Lyle

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 18 Jun 2012

The date 1882 can be seen on this side of the memorial. Below that, the inscription reads as follows: "In memory of Mary Park, wife of Abram Lyle, died 24th June 1881 in her 56th year. – Of the above Abram Lyle, cooper, shipowner and sugar refiner, born 14th December 1820, died 30th April 1891. – And of his second wife Eliz.S.C.Neilson, who died 17th July 1896, aged 57 years." Between the anchor motif and the inscription is the text "In my Father's house are many mansions". Beneath the anchor are the words "rest in hope" (here, the anchor is a symbol of hope). Abram Lyle married Mary Park, daughter of William Park, in 1846. Lyle's second wife was Elizabeth Stead Cumming Neilson, whom he married in 1882; she was the third daughter of Alex Neilson of Port Glasgow. Lyle's father, Abram Lyle (I), had been a cooper, shipbroker and sugar importer. His son, commemorated by this memorial, joined his father in business. However, the elder Abram had incurred heavy debts; after his death in 1847, these fell upon his son. Nevertheless, Lyle managed to clear himself of debt, and to built up his own fortune. Abram Lyle, John Kerr, J.J.Grieve, Charles Hunter, and Walter Grieve formed a partnership to buy the Glebe Sugar Refining Company (see Image); Lyle was the managing partner until 1873. His name is still very much associated with the sugar industry ("Tate & Lyle"). Lyle served as Provost of Greenock from 1876-79. He is commemorated in the name of Lyle Road (Image), the construction of which provided a period of employment for several hundred men and boys (the total number of unemployed people in Greenock at this time was considerably higher): http://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/7578 He also gifted Image (an elaborate iron fountain, also shown in Image) to the town in 1880. The Abram Lyle memorial is location № 26 on the Red Walk in the "Greenock Cemetery Walks" booklet (see the end-note).

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