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King Edward VII Memorial: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 52°28′47″N 1°54′25″W / 52.479762°N 1.906906°W / 52.479762; -1.906906
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{{Short description|Public sculpture by Albert Toft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox artwork
{{Infobox artwork
| image_file = Edward VII Highgate.jpg
| image_file = King Edward VII Memorial 02 CROP.jpg
| caption = Statue in Highgate Park, Birmingham
| caption = The statue in 2013, after restoration
| image_size = 200px
| painting_alignment = Portrait
| image_size = 150
| title = King Edward VII Memorial
| title = King Edward VII Memorial
| alt =
| alt =
| artist = [[Albert Toft]]
| artist = [[Albert Toft]]
| year = {{start date|1913}}
| year = {{start date|1913}}
| type =
| material = [[Carrara marble]]
| material = [[Carrera]] [[marble]]
| height_metric =
| height_metric =
| width_metric =
| width_metric =
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| height_imperial =
| height_imperial =
| width_imperial =
| width_imperial =
| length_imperial =
| diameter_metric =
| diameter_imperial =
| dimensions =
| dimensions =
| metric_unit = cm<!--don't leave this parameter blank—either don't include it, or include the default cm. Not including it will default it to cm.-->
| metric_unit = cm<!--don't leave this parameter blank—either don't include it, or include the default cm. Not including it will default it to cm.-->
| imperial_unit = in<!--don't leave this parameter blank—either don't include it, or include the default in. Not including it will default it to in.-->
| imperial_unit = in<!--don't leave this parameter blank—either don't include it, or include the default in. Not including it will default it to in.-->
| museum = [[Centenary Square]]
| city = [[Birmingham]], England
| city = [[Birmingham]], England
| coordinates = {{Coord|52.479762|-1.906906|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = <!-- Only use for the exact coordinates of the artwork itself (and only where known) and not for the coordinates of the museum. Leave blank if coordinates are not known. -->
| owner = [[Birmingham City Council]]
| owner = [[Birmingham City Council]]
}}
}}


[[File:Edward VII Highgate.jpg|thumb|upright|The statue in Highgate Park in 2007, before restoration]]
The '''King Edward VII Memorial''' is a sculpture in memory of King [[Edward VII]], located in [[Centenary Square]], [[Birmingham]], [[England]].


The '''King Edward VII Memorial''' is a sculpture in memory of King [[Edward VII]], relocated from [[Highgate Park]] to [[Centenary Square]], [[Birmingham]], [[England]].
In 1910, the [[Birmingham Mail]] launched an appeal to erect a statue to [[Edward VII]], in order to commemorate his reign. Over £5,000 was quickly raised and an area was allocated within [[Birmingham Children's Hospital]] for its location.


In 1910, the [[Birmingham Mail]] launched an appeal to erect a statue to [[Edward VII]] in order to commemorate his reign. Over £5,000 were quickly raised, and an area within [[Birmingham Children's Hospital]] was allocated for its location (then located on Ladywood Road near [[Five Ways, Birmingham|Five Ways]]).
[[Albert Toft]] was commissioned to craft the statue but the project immediately ran into problems. The statue was to be over six feet tall, making it difficult to find a large enough piece of [[Carrera]] [[marble]] for its construction. Fortunately, this problem was overcome and the project was well underway through 1912.<ref name="Public sculpture">''Public Sculpture of Birmingham: Including Sutton Coldfield'', George Thomas Noszlopy, 1998, Liverpool University Press (ISBN 0853236925)</ref>


[[Albert Toft]] was commissioned to craft the statue, but the project immediately ran into problems. The statue was to be over six feet tall, making it difficult to find a large enough piece of [[Carrara marble]] for its construction. This problem was overcome and the project was well underway through 1912.<ref name="Public sculpture">''Public Sculpture of Birmingham: Including Sutton Coldfield'', George Thomas Noszlopy, 1998, Liverpool University Press ({{ISBN|0853236925}})</ref>
The statue was unveiled in [[Victoria Square, Birmingham|Victoria Square]] on [[St George's Day|23 April]] 1913 by [[Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll]]. It stood next to a statue of [[Queen Victoria]]. However, soon afterwards these statues were criticised as being of "ill matched designs".<ref>''The Builder'': ''Art beneath the rule of commerce'', May 1, 1914, vol. 106</ref> The statue of Edward VII was eventually moved to [[Highgate Park]] (at {{coord|52.46925|-1.88294|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark}}) when Victoria Square was remodelled in 1951.<ref name="Public sculpture" />


The statue was unveiled in [[Victoria Square, Birmingham|Victoria Square]] on [[St George's Day]], 23 April 1913 by [[Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll]]. It stood next to a statue of [[Queen Victoria]]. However, soon afterwards these statues were criticized as being of "ill matched designs".<ref>''The Builder'': ''Art beneath the rule of commerce'', May 1, 1914, vol. 106</ref> The statue of Edward VII was moved to [[Highgate Park]] when Victoria Square was remodeled in 1951.<ref name="Public sculpture" />
The statue was the subject of theft in the 1970s and 1980s, beginning with the theft of [[Saint George]]'s lance and then the three bronze groups in 1985 and 1986, none of which have been recovered.


The statue was the subject of theft in the 1970s and 1980s, beginning with the [[Saint George]]'s lance and then the three bronze groups in 1985 and 1986, none of which have been recovered.
Following successful lobbying by [[The Victorian Society]], [[Birmingham City Council]] agreed to restore the statue and resite it back in the city centre. On June 12, 2007, The Victorian Society launched an appeal fund to contribute towards the programme of works which raised almost £12,000, more than 10% of the final cost of restoration. After restoration by Cliveden Conservation in Bath, starting in 2009, a new sceptre and orb capital (Cross pattée) were made and the three bronzes (one representing Peace, one representing Education and Progress and the other of St George slaying the dragon beneath a large stylised crown) were also re-made and the whole assembly reunited and erected on the original plinth, outside [[Baskerville House]] in Centenary Square ({{Coord|52.4797619|-1.9069056|region:GB-BIR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}).

Following successful lobbying by the [[Victorian Society]], [[Birmingham City Council]] agreed to restore the statue and re-site it back in the city center. On 12 June 2007, the Society launched an appeal fund to contribute towards the program of works which raised almost £12,000, more than 10% of the final cost of restoration. Work by Cliveden Conservation in Bath began in 2009. A new scepter and orb capital and the three bronzes (representing, respectively, Peace, Education and Progress, and St George slaying the dragon beneath a stylized crown) were re-made, and the monument reassembled on its original plinth. King Edward VII statue was finally placed in its new location outside [[Baskerville House]] in Centenary Square in 2013, near other Toft sculptures in the [[Hall of Memory, Birmingham|Hall of Memory]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=BusinessLive |date=2010-11-01 |title=Statue of King Edward VII to return to Birmingham city centre |url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/local-news/statue-king-edward-vii-return-3925653 |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Business Live |language=en}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==

{{GeoGroup}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Commons category|King Edward VII Memorial}}
*[http://www.victorian-society-bham.org.uk/Edward_VII_statue.pdf Victorian Society: Statue appeal]

*{{IoE|217285|- Grade II statue}}
*[http://www.victorian-society-bham.org.uk/oldsite/Edward_VII_statue.pdf Victorian Society: Statue appeal]
*{{NHLE |num=1289623 |desc=Grade II statue}}
* [http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=13808 Birmingham City Council press release] with video of statue's arrival and erection.
* [http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=13808 Birmingham City Council press release] with video of statue's arrival and erection.

{{Edward VII}}
{{Albert Toft}}
{{Public art in Birmingham}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Edward Vii, Statue}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edward Vii, Statue}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Birmingham, West Midlands]] <!-- We have no memorial category for Birmingham.-->
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in England]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in Birmingham]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in the West Midlands]]
[[Category:Edward VII]]
[[Category:Edward VII]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Royal monuments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1913 sculptures]]
[[Category:Sculptures by Albert Toft]]
[[Category:Marble sculptures in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Centenary Square, Birmingham]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Edward VII]]
[[Category:Grade II listed statues in England|Edward VII, Birmingham]]

Latest revision as of 01:13, 26 April 2024

King Edward VII Memorial
The statue in 2013, after restoration
ArtistAlbert Toft
Year1913 (1913)
MediumCarrara marble
LocationCentenary Square, Birmingham, England
Coordinates52°28′47″N 1°54′25″W / 52.479762°N 1.906906°W / 52.479762; -1.906906
OwnerBirmingham City Council
The statue in Highgate Park in 2007, before restoration

The King Edward VII Memorial is a sculpture in memory of King Edward VII, relocated from Highgate Park to Centenary Square, Birmingham, England.

In 1910, the Birmingham Mail launched an appeal to erect a statue to Edward VII in order to commemorate his reign. Over £5,000 were quickly raised, and an area within Birmingham Children's Hospital was allocated for its location (then located on Ladywood Road near Five Ways).

Albert Toft was commissioned to craft the statue, but the project immediately ran into problems. The statue was to be over six feet tall, making it difficult to find a large enough piece of Carrara marble for its construction. This problem was overcome and the project was well underway through 1912.[1]

The statue was unveiled in Victoria Square on St George's Day, 23 April 1913 by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll. It stood next to a statue of Queen Victoria. However, soon afterwards these statues were criticized as being of "ill matched designs".[2] The statue of Edward VII was moved to Highgate Park when Victoria Square was remodeled in 1951.[1]

The statue was the subject of theft in the 1970s and 1980s, beginning with the Saint George's lance and then the three bronze groups in 1985 and 1986, none of which have been recovered.

Following successful lobbying by the Victorian Society, Birmingham City Council agreed to restore the statue and re-site it back in the city center. On 12 June 2007, the Society launched an appeal fund to contribute towards the program of works which raised almost £12,000, more than 10% of the final cost of restoration. Work by Cliveden Conservation in Bath began in 2009. A new scepter and orb capital and the three bronzes (representing, respectively, Peace, Education and Progress, and St George slaying the dragon beneath a stylized crown) were re-made, and the monument reassembled on its original plinth. King Edward VII statue was finally placed in its new location outside Baskerville House in Centenary Square in 2013, near other Toft sculptures in the Hall of Memory.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Public Sculpture of Birmingham: Including Sutton Coldfield, George Thomas Noszlopy, 1998, Liverpool University Press (ISBN 0853236925)
  2. ^ The Builder: Art beneath the rule of commerce, May 1, 1914, vol. 106
  3. ^ BusinessLive (1 November 2010). "Statue of King Edward VII to return to Birmingham city centre". Business Live. Retrieved 9 November 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
[edit]