Statue of Queen Victoria, Chester
The Statue of Queen Victoria stands in front of
History
The money for the statue was raised by public subscription, with about one-third being raised in the city of Chester, and the remaining amount from elsewhere in the county. Its total cost was £1,360 (equivalent to £180,000 as of 2023),[1] excluding the cost of the foundations. Frederick William Pomeroy was selected to be the sculptor; he had recently created the effigy of the Duke of Westminster in Chester Cathedral. The bronze statue was made in the foundry of Hollinshead and Burton in Thames Ditton, Surrey. The designer of the stonework was Harry Beswick, and the stonemasons were Haswell and Sons of Chester. The statue was unveiled on 17 October 1903 by Wilbraham Egerton, 1st Earl Egerton.[2]
Description
The statue is in bronze, and depicts
- THIS STATUE WAS ERECTED IN HONOUR OF
- A GOOD AND BELOVED QUEEN
- AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF HER LONG AND GLORIOUS REIGN
- BY HER MAJESTY'S LOYAL SUBJECTS
- IN THE COUNTY AND CITY OF CHESTER A.D. 1903
In relief, around the sides of the pedestal, is an inscription reading as follows.[2]
- VICTORIA. DEI. GRATIA.
- MAG. BRIT. ET. HIBERN.
- REG. FIDEI DEFENSOR.
- ??? 1837–1901. INDIA. IMP.
On the west base of the statue is the signature of the sculptor, reading "FW POMEROY / SCULPTOR. 1903".[2]
The statue was designated as a Grade II listed building on 26 February 1985.[3] Grade II is the lowest of the three grades of listing and is applied to "buildings of national importance and special interest".[4]
See also
References
- ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017), "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)", MeasuringWorth, retrieved 7 May 2024
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84631-492-6
- ^ a b Historic England, "Statue of Queen Victoria opposite portico of Assize Courts (1245519)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 30 December 2013
- ^ Listed Buildings, Historic England, retrieved 11 April 2015