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Waterloo Place (SW1)

Guards Crimean War Memorial

Description

Monument commemorating the Allied victory in the Crimean War of 1853–56. It was unveiled in 1861 and consists of the statues of three Guardsmen: a Coldstream, a Grenadier and a Fusilier, above them a female allegorical figure referred to as Honour. It was cast in bronze from the cannons captured at the siege of Sevastopol.

In 1914, the monument was moved northwards to make room for new statues of Florence Nightingale and Sidney Herbert who was Secretary at War during the Crimean War. It is only then that the allegorical figure was referred to as Victory.

Inscription(s)

CRIMEA

On the back facade of the monument is a shield surrounded by foliage and mounted on guns, with text:

to the memory of
2152
Officers Non-Com^d Officers
and privates of the
BRIGADE OF GUARDS
who fell during the
war with russia
in 1854–56.
erected by their comrades.

The plaques on the front described on the Wikipedia page are no longer present. The texts were:

The foundation stone of the Guards' Memorial was laid in the year of our lord 1861 by Margaret Johanna Bell.

The Guards' Memorial was pulled down in the year of our lord 1914 and was re-erected 30 feet north in order to permit the erection of the Florence Nightingale and Sidney Herbert statues.

Signature

(statue of Victory) john. bell. sculptor. (pedestal) john bell sc.
(statue of Victory) elkington and co founders 1860

Artist

John Bell (Great Yarmouth 1811 - London 1895), British sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, Crimean War Memorial.
Andrew Kershman, London's Monuments (London: Metro Publ., 2013), p. 100-101.
The Victorian Web, The Art of Sculpture in Victorian Britain.
Bob Speel, Sculptures at Waterloo Place.

Location (N 51°30'26" - W 0°7'57") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gblo208; Photograph: 18 March 2019
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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