Statues - Hither & Thither

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Manchester
Greater Manchester
North West England

St. Peter's Square
(Manchester Town Hall Extension)

Statues and Reliefs Manchester Town Hall Extension

Hermon Cawthra
1934-38

Description

The Manchester Town Hall Extension was built from 1934 to 1938, designed by E. Vincent Harris. The foundation stone was laid by King George V on 17 July 1934 and the building was opened by his son George VI on 18 May 1938, both occasions commemorated by carved inset stones at the western facades.
The south-eastern and south-western gable ends (both facing Peter Street) have a statue in a niche above staircase bays' windows with geometric tracery with coat-of-arms (SE: England and Scotland; NE: Ireland and Wales). Further there are two reliefs on the north-east gable end facing Princess Street. Statues and reliefs are all 3.65 m tall.

Manchester - Statues and Reliefs Manchester Town Hall Extension
Two reliefs representing Commerce (with scales and a ship) and Cotton (with a distaff), ascribed to Cawthra.

Statue of the Councillor on the south-eastern gable, by Cawthra.

Statue of the Philosopher on the south-western gable, by Cawthra.

Sculptor

Hermon Cawthra (Baildon, Yorkshire 1886 - Bradford 1971), British sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, Manchester Town Hall Extension.
British Listed Buildings, Town Hall Extension.
Terry Wyke and Harry Cocks, Public Sculpture of Greater Manchester, Liverpool University Press 2004, p. 48 (some parts on Google books).

Locatie (N 53°28'42" - W 2°14'39") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbnw016; Photograph: 17 June 2023
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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