Victoria Statue In Queen'S Gardens

The Victoria Statue in Queen's Gardens is a Grade II listed statue of Queen Victoria, created in 1903 by sculptor C.B. Birch. The statue features a bronze figure of the queen in a traditional pose, holding an orb and sceptre, and stands on a polished granite square plinth. The front of the plinth is inscribed with details of her birth and death, stating, "VICTORIA, R.I./ BORN AT KENSINGTON PALACE/ 24TH MAY 1819/ DIED AT OSBOURNE/ 22ND JANUARY 1901/ BURIED AT WINDSOR/ 2ND FEBRUARY 1901." The rear inscription reads, "PRESENTED/ 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."

Originally, the statue was erected in Nelson Place and unveiled on November 5, 1903, to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII in August 1902. Sir Alfred Haslam, the mayor at the time, donated the statue to the town and also presented similar statues in London on Blackfriars Bridge and in Derby at the Royal Infirmary, both of which are also listed at Grade II. This statue is one of several identical statues designed by C.B. Birch, with others located in Scarborough, Aberdeen, and even Adelaide, Australia. The statue was relocated to Station Walk in 1963 and then moved again in 2001 to its current position, which is close to its original site.