Gladstone Memorial, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gladstone Memorial, London |
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The memorial in front of St Clement Danes
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| Artist | Hamo Thornycroft |
| Completion date | 1905 |
| Type | Statue |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | William Ewart Gladstone |
| Dimensions | 3.4 m (11 ft) |
| Location | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | Statue of W E Gladstone on island in road, Strand, WC2 |
| Designated | 24 February 1958 |
| Reference no. | 1237098 |
The Gladstone Memorial is a large bronze statue in London, found on a street called the Strand. It shows a famous British leader named William Ewart Gladstone. The statue was made by an artist called Hamo Thornycroft between 1899 and 1905. It was built to remember Gladstone and his important work. The statue shows him wearing the special robes of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a top government job. Around the base of the statue, there are figures that represent important ideas like Courage, Brotherhood, Education, and Aspiration. This memorial is a special historic building, known as a Grade II listed structure.
Contents
Who Was William Gladstone?
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) was a very important person in British history. He served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom four times between 1868 and 1894. He was one of the most famous politicians during the Victorian era.
Gladstone's Key Ideas
Gladstone wanted to make voting fairer for everyone. He helped introduce the secret ballot, so people could vote without others knowing their choice. He also worked to expand who could vote through the Representation of the People Act 1884. Gladstone believed in free trade, which means countries can trade goods without many taxes or rules. He also tried to improve relations with Ireland.
Building the Memorial
After Gladstone passed away in 1898, a group was formed to collect money for a national memorial. The job of creating the statue was given to Hamo Thornycroft. Thornycroft came from a family of sculptors and was already a well-known artist. He had made other important statues in Westminster, including one of Oliver Cromwell and General Gordon.
It took Thornycroft six years to finish the Gladstone statue. It was finally revealed in 1906. The ceremony was led by John Morley, who had worked with Gladstone and wrote his life story. The memorial cost £8,000 to create.
What Does the Statue Look Like?
The statue is made of bronze and stands about 3.35 meters (11 feet) tall. It rests on a base, called a plinth, made of Portland stone by John Lee. Gladstone is shown wearing the robes of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a role similar to a country's finance minister.
Important Figures Around the Base
On the front of the plinth, it simply says "GLADSTONE 1809-1898". Around the bottom of the statue, there are figures of women, some with children. These figures are allegorical, meaning they represent ideas. They show four important Virtues: Courage, Brotherhood, Education, and Aspiration.
Where is the Memorial Located?
The Gladstone Memorial is at the eastern end of the Strand street. It stands in front of the historic Church of St Clement Danes. The statue used to be surrounded by a busy road. Now, it is in a special area where people can walk safely. This area also has other statues from the late 20th century. These include statues of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding and Marshall of the Royal Air Force Arthur Harris. St Clement Danes Church is known as the official church of the Royal Air Force.
