Statue of Queen Victoria, Weymouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen Victoria Statue |
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| Artist | George Blackall Simonds |
| Year | 1902 |
| Type | Bronze figure with Portland stone podium |
| Location | Weymouth |
The Queen Victoria Statue is a famous monument in Weymouth, Dorset, England. It shows Queen Victoria, who was a very important queen. The statue was made by an artist named George Blackall Simonds. It was built to remember her long time as queen. The statue is a life-size figure of the Queen. It is made from bronze. She stands on a base made of special Portland stone. This stone base was built by a company called Messrs. Singer from Frome.
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About the Statue
This special statue was put up to celebrate Queen Victoria's time as queen. She ruled for a very long time. The statue shows her as a life-size figure. It is made from a metal called bronze. The Queen stands on a strong base. This base is called a podium. It is made from Portland stone, a famous type of rock.
How the Statue Was Built
The idea for the statue came from the people of Weymouth. They wanted to honor Queen Victoria. Mr. John Bagg, who was the Mayor of Weymouth, helped a lot. He worked to collect money from people to pay for the statue.
Once enough money was collected, the artist George Blackall Simonds got to work. He designed the beautiful bronze figure of the Queen. The stone base was made by a company from Frome.
Unveiling the Statue
The statue was officially shown to the public on October 20, 1902. A very special guest came for the event. It was Princess Henry of Battenberg. She was Queen Victoria's youngest daughter. Princess Beatrice helped to unveil, or reveal, the new statue.
Protecting the Statue
The Queen Victoria Statue is an important part of history. Because of this, it has a special protection status. Since 1997, it has been a "Grade II listed monument." This means it is a building or structure of special interest. It is protected by law.
Historic England is a group that looks after historical places. They said the statue is in a good spot. It is at the north entrance to Weymouth. They also compared it to the King's Statue at the south end.
Restoring the Statue
Over time, statues can get old and need care. In 2007, there were plans to fix up the Queen Victoria Statue. The work was done in 2009. A company called Osirion Building Conservation helped to restore it. They made sure the statue stays in good condition for many more years.
