List of public art in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames facts for kids
This article is about the amazing public art you can find in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Public art is art that's out in the open for everyone to see and enjoy. It can be statues, sculptures, murals, or even cool designs on buildings. These artworks tell stories about Kingston's history, its people, and its unique character. Let's explore some of the cool art pieces around!
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Art in Kingston Town Centre
Kingston town centre is full of interesting artworks. Many of these pieces have a long history.
Historic Artworks
- Statue of Queen Anne
* Location: Market House * Date: 1706 * Artist: Francis Bird * What it is: This statue of Queen Anne was first made for an older town hall. It was then moved to the current Market House.
- Shrubsole Memorial
* Location: Kingston Market Place * Date: 1882 * Artist: Francis John Williamson * What it is: This memorial is a drinking fountain. It honors Henry Shrubsole.
- Sculptures at Surrey County Hall
* Location: Surrey County Hall * Date: 1893 * Artist: Farmer & Brindley * What it is: Look closely at the building! You'll see sculptures like Law and Liberty and Peace and Plenty. There are also coats of arms from different towns.
- Woman Reading at Kingston Museum
* Location: North side of Kingston Museum, Wheatfield Way * Date: 1904 * What it is: This is a relief sculpture, which means it's carved into the wall but sticks out from the surface. It shows a woman reading.
- Kingston upon Thames War Memorial
* Location: Union Street * Date: 1920 * Artist: Richard Reginald Goulden * What it is: This memorial remembers those who served in wars. It was officially revealed on Armistice Day in 1923.
- Kingston Hill War Memorial
* Location: St Paul's Church, Queen's Road, Kingston Hill * Date: 1922 * What it is: This is a memorial cross. It was revealed in June 1922.
- Memorial Gates at All Saints' Church
* Location: North side of Market Square, leading to All Saints' Church * Date: 1924 * What it is: These gates are a memorial to the East Surrey Regiment. They were revealed on Remembrance Sunday in 1924.
- Bentall Centre Sculptures
* Location: Façade of Bentall Centre, Clarence Street * Date: 1930–1932 * Artist: Eric Gill * What it is: The front of the Bentall Centre has a special coat of arms and other carved reliefs.
- Halifax Building Society Reliefs
* Location: Façade of Halifax Building Society, Eden Street * Date: 1935 * What it is: You can see two figures carved in relief on this building.
- Guildhall Reliefs
* Location: Façade of Kingston upon Thames Guildhall * Date: 1935 * Artist: Walter Gilbert * What it is: The Guildhall also has special carvings on its front.
Modern Artworks
- Leaping Salmon Sculpture
* Location: 100 London Road * Date: 1980 * Artist: David Wynne * What it is: This sculpture shows a salmon jumping. The salmon is a symbol from Kingston's coat of arms.
- Memorial to Sydney Camm
* Location: Camm Gardens * Date: 1984 * What it is: This artwork remembers Sydney Camm, a famous aircraft designer.
- Kings Mural
* Location: Eden Walk shopping centre, Eden Street * Date: 1985 * Artist: Maggie Humphry * What it is: This colorful ceramic mural shows different kings who were crowned in Kingston.
- Out of Order Sculpture
* Location: Old London Road * Date: 1989 * Artist: David Mach * What it is: This famous sculpture looks like a row of telephone boxes falling over like dominoes!
- River Celebration Sculpture
* Location: Old London Road, at the junction with Queen Elizabeth Road * Date: 1989 * Artist: Carole Hodgson * What it is: This sculpture celebrates the river.
- Kingston Mosaics (1992)
* Artist: Paul Oakley (artist); Arthur Mann (brick cutter) * What they are: These mosaics are made of small pieces of tile or brick. They show symbols from different parts of the borough: * Chessington Mosaic: Clarence Street, near Wood Street. Shows St Mary's Church. * Surbiton Mosaic: Clarence Street, at Thames Street. Shows a winged lion. * Kingston Mosaic: Clarence Street, at Fife Road. Shows three fish from Kingston's coat of arms. * Old Malden Mosaic: Clarence Street. Shows a cross and chevrons. * New Malden Mosaic: Clarence Street. Shows a beehive, a symbol of the area. * Coombe Mosaic: Fife Road. Shows a heraldic fountain.
- Flock of Mallard Ducks Sculpture
* Location: Charter Quay * Date: 2001 * Artist: Lloyd Le Blanc * What it is: A sculpture of ducks!
- Kingston Railway Station Mosaic
* Location: Under Kingston Railway Bridge * Date: 2003 * Artist: Save the World Club * What it is: A mosaic under the railway bridge.
- Study of Eadweard Muybridge Mosaic
* Location: Rose Theatre * Date: 2004 * Artist: Nicola Benge with volunteers and schoolchildren * What it is: This mosaic is inspired by Eadweard Muybridge, a famous photographer who pioneered motion pictures.
- Kingsnympton Estate Mosaics
* Location: Kingsnympton Estate * Date: 2004 * Artist: Save The World Club + ~140 children and adults * What they are: More mosaics created by the community.
- Study of Hundertwasser Mosaic
* Location: Skerne Road and Canbury Passage * Date: 2005 * Artist: Nicola Benge, with 1800 people * What it is: This mosaic is inspired by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
- John Lewis Mosaic
* Location: John Lewis Kingston * Date: 2010 * Artist: Yasha Shrimpton, Howard Grange, staff, Save the World Club * What it is: A mosaic inside or on the building.
- Paper Trail Sculpture
* Location: College Roundabout * Date: 2012 * Artist: Michael Antrobus and Tom Kean * What it is: This sculpture is at a busy roundabout.
- Colourful Tree, Swing and Cat Mural
* Location: 12 Queen Elizabeth Road * Date: March 2021 * Artist: Lionel Stanhope * What it is: A bright and fun mural.
- Post Horns Sculpture
* Location: Royal Exchange * Date: 2023 * Artist: Rob Mulholland * What it is: A new sculpture of post horns.
- Sopwith Camel Propeller
* Location: Canbury * What it is: A propeller from a Sopwith Camel airplane, a famous aircraft from World War I.
- Tiffin School Coat of Arms
* Location: Outside Tiffin School, Queen Elizabeth Road * What it is: A glass disc showing the school's coat of arms.
- Three Fishes Motif
* Location: Bandstand, Canbury Gardens * What it is: A design showing three fish, similar to the Kingston coat of arms.
Art in New Malden
New Malden also has its own public art pieces.
- New Malden War Memorial
* Location: High Street, outside New Malden Town Hall * Date: 1924 * What it is: This is a cenotaph, a monument to people buried elsewhere. It was revealed in November 1924.
- New Malden Library Relief Plaques
* Location: New Malden Library, Kingston Road * Date: 1941 * Artist: T Mewburn Crook * What they are: These are carved panels showing different subjects like Philosophy and Literature.
- Bronze Family Sculpture
* Location: Tudor Williams department store, 53–59 High Street * Date: 1970s * Artist: Patricia and Derek Freeborn * What it is: A bronze sculpture of a family.
- Fountain and Lamp
* Location: Kingston Road roundabout * Date: 1982 * Artist: Adrian Marchant * What it is: A decorative fountain with a lamp.
Art in Old Malden
Old Malden has some special artworks too.
- Old Malden War Memorial
* Location: St John the Baptist's Church, Church Road * Date: 1923 (restored 2011) * Artist: Stuart Allen (restoration) * What it is: A wooden memorial.
- Old Malden Community Mosaic
* Location: Malden Manor, Sheephouse Way * Date: 2019 * Artist: Save the World Club, Kim Porrelli * What it is: A mosaic created by the local community.
Art in Surbiton
Surbiton has its own unique public art.
- Surbiton Assembly Rooms Relief Panels
* Location: Surbiton Assembly Rooms, corner of Maple Road, Claremont Gardens and Surbiton Hill * Date: 1890s * What they are: Carved panels on the building.
- King Edward VII Coronation Clock Tower
* Location: Claremont Road * Date: 1905–1906 * Artist: John Johnson * What it is: A clock tower built to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII.
- Surbiton War Memorial
* Location: Ewell Road * Date: 1921 * What it is: A memorial cross that was revealed in July 1921.
- Transport Panels Mosaics
* Location: 50–58 Victoria Road, on wall of Sainsbury's * Date: 1980 * Artist: Henry and Joyce Collins * What they are: Mosaics showing the history of Surbiton and how people used to travel there.
- Mini Jumping Through Wall Sculpture
* Location: Bridge Garage * What it is: A fun sculpture of a Mini car appearing to jump through a wall!
Art in Tolworth
Tolworth also has public art to discover.
- Kingston Coat of Arms Sculpture
* Location: Fishponds Park * Date: 2004 * What it is: A sculpture showing the coat of arms for Kingston.
