Statue of Queen Victoria, Chester facts for kids
The Statue of Queen Victoria is a special monument located in front of the Chester Crown Court. You can find it in the area outside Chester Castle in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. This impressive statue was first shown to the public in 1903. A talented artist named Frederick William Pomeroy created it. The statue is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it's an important historical structure.
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Building the Queen Victoria Statue
People wanted to honor Queen Victoria. So, they raised money from the public to build this statue. About one-third of the money came from people in Chester city. The rest was collected from other parts of the county.
The total cost for the statue was about £1,360. This amount did not include the money needed for the statue's base. Frederick William Pomeroy was chosen to sculpt the statue. He had recently made a statue of the Duke of Westminster for Chester Cathedral.
The bronze statue was made in a special factory. This factory was called Hollinshead and Burton, located in Thames Ditton, Surrey. Harry Beswick designed the stone parts of the monument. The stonework itself was done by Haswell and Sons from Chester. The statue was officially revealed on October 17, 1903. Wilbraham Egerton, 1st Earl Egerton did the honors of unveiling it.
What the Queen Victoria Statue Looks Like
The statue is made of bronze, a type of metal. It shows Queen Victoria standing tall. She is holding two important royal items: the orb and the sceptre. The orb is a golden ball with a cross, and the sceptre is a staff.
Queen Victoria is wearing her special coronation robes. These are the fancy clothes worn during her crowning ceremony. She also has a lace head-dress and the Imperial crown on her head. The statue stands on a base called a pedestal. This pedestal is made from Stancliffe stone. The very bottom part is made of granite.
The statue of the Queen herself is about 1.65 meters (5.4 feet) tall. The stone pedestal it stands on is about 1.70 meters (5.6 feet) high. On the sides of the pedestal, you can see the special symbols, or "arms," of Chester city and the county.
Messages on the Statue
On the north side of the granite base, there is a message written in lead. It says:
- THIS STATUE WAS ERECTED IN HONOUR OF
- A GOOD AND BELOVED QUEEN
- AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF HER LONG AND GLORIOUS REIGN
- BY HER MAJESTY'S LOYAL SUBJECTS
- IN THE COUNTY AND CITY OF CHESTER A.D. 1903
Around the sides of the pedestal, there is another message carved in relief. Relief means the letters stick out from the surface. This message says:
- VICTORIA. DEI. GRATIA.
- MAG. BRIT. ET. HIBERN.
- REG. FIDEI DEFENSOR.
- ??? 1837–1901. INDIA. IMP.
This Latin phrase means "Victoria, by the Grace of God, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India." The dates 1837–1901 show the years she reigned.
On the west side of the statue's base, you can see the sculptor's signature. It reads "FW POMEROY / SCULPTOR. 1903". This shows who made the statue and when.
Why the Statue is Protected
The Statue of Queen Victoria was officially named a Grade II listed building on February 26, 1985. There are three grades of listed buildings in England. Grade II is the lowest of these. It is given to "buildings of national importance and special interest." This means the statue is considered an important part of the country's history and heritage.
