Queen Victoria Jubilee Statue

Summary

Statue of Queen Victoria created by George Blackall Simonds (1843-1929) and erected in 1887.

Reasons for Designation

The Queen Victoria Jubilee Statue, erected in 1887 in Town Hall Square, Reading, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as a well-detailed statue, designed by the prominent Reading sculptor and businessman George Blackall Simonds, which contributes to the character of an architecturally varied historic streetscape.

Historic interest:

* as a major monument in the centre of Reading marking Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, standing as a testament to the philanthropic provision of public sculpture which has contributed to the historic urban development of Reading's ancient core.

Group value:

* the statue is in close proximity to a large number of listed buildings, including the Grade I-listed Church of St Laurence and the Grade II*-listed Reading Town Hall immediately to the east.

History

Modest rural settlements likely existed in the area of Reading as far back as the first century. By the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066, Reading had become a town of notable size. After Reading Abbey was founded in 1121, the town grew substantially, spurred on by cloth production, the establishment of the new Market Place, and what would today be known as London Street, an extension to the High Street that facilitated trade to and from London. By 1525, the town’s thriving cloth industry led Reading to become the largest town in Berkshire. In 1542, Henry VIII’s royal charter made Reading a borough.

Following significant upheaval during the Civil War, the town flourished during C18 and C19. Several developments during the late C18 and C19 spurred further growth and prosperity, including the arrival of the Great Western Railway in 1840, improvements to the navigability of the River Kennet, and the growth of the local brewing industry.

George Blackall Simonds (1843-1929), a prominent local sculptor and brewery director, was commissioned to sculpt the statue of Queen Victoria, which was erected on 27 July 1887 in commemoration of her Golden Jubilee. Upon completion, the statue would have looked in the direction of Reading Station up Blagrave Street, although this connection was severed during the later C20 with the construction of the Apex Plaza and other modern developments. The statue is missing the index finger of its right hand, which was blown off by a bomb blast during the Second World War and is now (2023) on display at Reading Museum. The statue was restored as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone in 2023.

Details

Statue of Queen Victoria created by George Blackall Simonds (1843-1929) and erected in 1887.

MATERIALS: statue of Carrara marble with corner bollards of red granite.

PLAN: the statue stands atop a square plinth.

DESCRIPTION: the Queen Victoria Jubilee Statue is located on the north-west of Town Hall Square and faces north towards Blagrave Street and Reading Station. It presents Queen Victoria in regal attire, holding the Sovereign’s Orb in her left hand and the Sovereign’s Sceptre in her right hand. She stands on top of a high plinth with moulded cornice and base. The base of the plinth sits on a wide step, cornered on each of its four sides by a red granite bollard.

The upper section of the plinth is adorned with a ribbon swag on its north face. The plinth has inscribed cartouches on both its north and south sides. The north side reads ‘VICTORIA / D: G: / BRITANNIAR: REG: /INDIÆ IMP: / FID: DEF: / MDCCC / LXXX / VII, while the south face reads ERECTED / TO COMMEMORATE / THE COMPLETION OF / THE FIFTIETH YEAR OF / HER MAJESTY’S REIGN / JUNE 20th 1889 / ARTHUR HILL MAYOR.’

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

38947

Legacy System:

LBS

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