Victoria Statue In Queen'S Gardens

NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME

644-1/9/55 IRONMARKET 27-SEP-72 Victoria Statue in Queen's Gardens (Formerly listed as: STATION WALKS VICTORIA STATUE)

II Statue of Queen Victoria. 1903. C.B. Birch, Sculptor. Bronze figure, in conventional pose carrying orb and sceptre, on polished granite square plinth. Inscription on front of plinth reads VICTORIA, R.I./ BORN AT KENSINGTON PALACE/ 24TH MAY 1819/ DIED AT OSBOURNE/ 22ND JANUARY 1901/ BURIED AT WINDSOR/ 2ND FEBRUARY 1901'. Inscription on rear of plinth readsPRESENTED/ TO THE/ PARLIAMENTARY BOROUGH/ OF NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME/ BY/ SIR ALFRED SEALE HASLAM KT. M.P./ MAYOR OF THE BOROUGH/ 1901-2-3/ AND UNVEILED BY/ H.I.H. THE GRAND DUKE MICHAEL/ OF RUSSIA/ NOVEMBER 5TH 1903'.

HISTORY: The statue was originally erected in Nelson Place and unveiled on 5th November 1903 by the Grand Duke Michael of Russia to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII (August 1902). It was given to the town by Sir Alfred Haslam, then mayor of the town, who also presented similar statues to London (on Blackfriars Bridge) and Derby (in grounds of Royal Infirmary), both of which are listed at Grade II. These are three of a number of identical statues to C.B.Birch's design; others are to be found in Scarborough and Aberdeen as well as Adelaide, Australia. This statue was moved to Station Walk in 1963, and then moved again in 2001 to its present position near to the original location.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION * One of a number of statues of Queen Victoria to the design of notable sculptor C.B.Birch * One of three identical bronze statues presented by the politician and engineer Sir Alfred Haslam to Newcastle-under-Lyme, Derby and London; the other two are also listed.