Statue of John Laird facts for kids
The Statue of John Laird stands in Hamilton Square in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. It honors John Laird, who was a famous local shipbuilder, a politician, and someone who helped his community a lot. The statue was created by Albert Bruce-Joy. It was officially revealed in 1877 by Lord Tollemache. This statue is considered a special historical building, known as a Grade II listed building.
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Who Was John Laird?
John Laird (1805–1874) was a very important shipbuilder and politician. He was born in Greenock, Scotland. As a child, he moved with his family to Liverpool. Then, in 1824, they moved to Birkenhead. His father, William, started a shipbuilding business there.
John studied at Liverpool Royal Institution. After training to be a lawyer, he joined his father's business in 1828. When his father retired in 1839, John took over the company.
Building Ships and Helping Birkenhead
John Laird retired from the business in 1861. His three sons then continued the company. It later became the huge shipbuilding firm called Cammell Laird.
While John Laird was in charge, his company did amazing new things. They were among the first to use iron to build ships. They also pioneered using steam engines to power ships.
After retiring from his business, John Laird became the first Member of Parliament for Birkenhead. This meant he represented the town in the government. He was also in charge of the Birkenhead Improvement Commission. He helped finish the important Birkenhead Docks. John Laird also helped his town by providing hospitals, churches, and colleges.
How the Statue Was Made
After John Laird died in 1874, people held a meeting. They decided to build a statue to remember him. Money for the statue was collected from the public. More than £2,500 was raised, which was more than enough! The extra money was used for other good causes in the town.
A competition was held to design the statue. A young Irish sculptor named Albert Bruce-Joy won the first prize. The statue was made in Chelsea. It was officially revealed on October 31, 1877, by Lord Tollemache. Between 12,000 and 15,000 people watched the event!
The statue first stood on the east side of Hamilton Square. It faced Birkenhead Town Hall. But in 1925, it was moved to the west side of the square. This happened when the Birkenhead War Memorial was built.
What the Statue Looks Like
The statue of John Laird is made of bronze. It stands on a tall base, called a pedestal, made of granite and stone. The figure of John Laird is about 3.2 meters (10.5 feet) tall. The pedestal is about 4.4 meters (14.4 feet) high.
Laird is shown standing, as if he is giving a speech at a meeting. He is wearing clothes from his time, including a buttoned coat and a loose overcoat. In his right hand, he holds plans for the Birkenhead Docks. The base of the statue has the names of the sculptor and the people who made it. The pedestal also has an inscription that says:
- JOHN LAIRD
- BORN 14 JUNE 1805
- DIED 29 OCTOBER 1874
Why the Statue is Important
The statue was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on March 28, 1974. Grade II is the lowest of three levels for listed buildings. It means the building or structure is "of national importance and special interest."
In March 1877, when the statue was almost finished, a newspaper called the Belfast News-Letter praised it. They liked that Laird was shown in "the ordinary dress of an English gentlemen." At the time, many statues showed people in old Roman clothes, like a toga. The newspaper thought it was much better to show him in realistic clothing.
