Westminster Bridge, London

Uncategorized 1 Minute
On the corner of Victoria Embankment and Westminster Bridge (opposite the Palace of Westminster) is a bronze sculpture of ‘Boadicea and her Daughters’. It was designed by Thomas Thornycroft who worked on the sculpture from 1856 until his death in 1885. Thornycroft had made an equestrian statue of Queen Victoria for the Great Exhibition in 1851. The Queen had admired the statue and, together with Prince Albert, she took an interest in this project. Albert died in 1861 – long before its completion.
Following the ‘discovery’ of Boadicea’s Grave near Parliament Hill in 1894, it was suggested (by Thornycroft’s son) that this would be an appropriate site for the sculpture. Once the cash had been raised for the casting, the statue was eventually installed in 1902. It is mounted on a large granite plinth, and inscriptions were added in 1903. On the front of the plinth is – BOADICEA/ (BOUDICCA)/ QUEEN OF THE ICENI/ WHO DIED A.D. 61/ AFTER LEADING HER PEOPLE/ AGAINST THE ROMAN INVADER. However, in recent years this has been obscured by a souvenir stand. The statue became Grade II listed in 1958. This photograph was taken in 1967.
Image: Photographer – Margaret Bates
In July 2020, the London Eye dominates the view from the same location. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the absence of tourists, the souvenir stalls were closed when I took this photograph.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two photographs. Use the slider in the centre.
Unknown's avatar

Published by stevenmiell1183

Never without a camera!

Published

Leave a comment