Statue of Queen Victoria, Bristol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen Victoria |
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| Artist | Joseph Edgar Boehm |
| Year | 1888 |
| Type | White marble |
| Location | Bristol |
The statue of Queen Victoria is a famous sculpture located in College Green, Bristol, England. It was created by the artist Joseph Edgar Boehm. This statue is considered a very important historical artwork. Because of its importance, it is officially protected as a Grade II listed structure. This means it's a special building or object that should be preserved.
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About the Queen Victoria Statue
This statue was planned as part of a big celebration. It marked Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. A Golden Jubilee celebrates 50 years of a ruler's time on the throne. The statue was placed right at the top of College Green. To make space for it, an older replica of the medieval Bristol High Cross was moved to the center of the Green.
What the Statue Looks Like
The statue stands on a round base made of limestone. This base has smooth, cut stones called ashlar. On top of the stone base is a square base made of copper. This copper part is decorated with carvings of fish and small, winged figures called putti. It also has special panels with words carved into them.
The main part is the marble statue of Queen Victoria herself. She is holding a sceptre (a royal staff) and an orb (a ball with a cross, symbolizing power). Sadly, these parts are now broken. The statue is very tall, standing 8 feet 6 inches high. It is also very heavy, weighing four tons!
When It Was Unveiled
The statue was officially revealed to the public on July 25, 1888. The person who unveiled it was Prince Albert Victor of Wales. He was one of Queen Victoria's grandsons.
Other Similar Statues
The artist, Joseph Edgar Boehm, made several statues that look very similar to this one. He created them for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations. You can find these other statues in places like Windsor, Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Sydney in Australia, and Pietermaritzburg in South Africa.
The Time Capsule
When the statue was first put in place, a special time capsule was hidden inside its base. A time capsule is like a container filled with items from a certain time. It is meant to be opened much later. This glass time capsule was discovered in 2004 during some work on the statue. It was then given to the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery for safekeeping.
Moving the Statue
Over the years, the statue has been moved a few times. This can happen to statues in public places for different reasons. Sometimes it's for renovations or to make way for new city plans.
