Ashburton RC Cemetery, grave of John Farnon

John Farnon (1851-1923) department store owner. Farnon was an Irish linen importer. He founded Farnons Department Store in Nun Street in 1882. He and his wife Annie Richardson lived above the shop. Farnon was a councillor for Gosforth Urban District Council for 25 years and chairman in 1917-18. He served on the Newcastle School Board and was a JP for Newcastle. He donated the apse window to St. Charles RC Church in Gosforth. His two surviving daughters donated the Lady Altar at the same church in memory of their parents.