Kings Statue

WEYMOUTH

SY6779SE 873-1/20/140 12/12/53

ESPLANADE (East side) King's Statue

GV I

Freestanding monument to George III. Erected 1809/10, to designs of James Hamilton, architect. The figures and detail in Coade stone, said to be the work of Mr Sealy, of the firm of Coade and Sealy, on a massive Portland stone pedestal. The King, in Garter robes, holds the sceptre in his right hand, and is backed by various insignia, including, to his right, the crown on a cushion, Royal standard and Union flag; to his left are a pile of books and a large oval shield of arms. These items are all brightly coloured, and stand on a cavetto base with roll-mould, on a lofty rectangular pedestal with moulded capping and base, on a plinth in 2 high steps. To each side is a further low pedestal, not coursed or bonded to the main stonework, carrying fine gilded figures; to the King's right a lion, and to his left a unicorn. The front, which faces N along the length of the Esplanade, has an inscription in large letters: 'The grateful Inhabitants/ To GEORGE THE THIRD/ On his entering the 50th Year/ Of His REIGN'; immediately below, in lettering almost as bold is 'J.HAMILTON ARCHT'. The back of the pedestal, in a corresponding location, bears a long inscription, considerably worn, and legible only in part. This inscription has been transcribed to a smaller Portland stone tablet set at the base, at the front. Amongst other information is the date (18 October 1809) of a general meeting, with James Bower, Mayor, in the chair, at which various resolutions were passed, including 'A congratulatory address...' and 'That Public Dinners and general illuminations are ill adapted to this occasion or the awful times in which we live....' Instead, a public subscription would be raised, partly '....to contribute to the comfort of our Poorer Brethren .....and Prisoners of War....' half of the proceeds to each of these worthy causes. In addition 'That (sundry named persons) being possessed of a statue of our excellent king... offered to present it..' A separate subscription would be raised for this, and the committee given full powers to find a site and erect it. The lettering is all splendidly set out and incised, and, like the principal inscription, is painted black. This splendid memorial has a commanding location, but now serves as part of a traffic island. The monument has not

always been appreciated: in a long report of January 1886 in The Southern Times, reviewing the unveiling of the statue to Sir Henry Edwardes (qv), further to the S on the Esplanade, the journalist contrasted the new statue with '.... that hideous monstrosity known as the King's Statue, about the removal of which many schemes have been from time to time suggested....' (RCHME: Dorset, South-East: London: 1970-: 338; Buildings of England: Newman J & Pevsner N: Dorset: London: 1972-: 453).

Listing NGR: SY6798779223