Statue

Epstein at TUC

Erection date: 1958

This sculpture was commissioned for the building as a war memorial commemorating the sacrifices of trade unionists in the two world wars. Spike Magazine has photos giving the context of the sculpture and an interesting critique of its maintenance over the years.

From TUC: "The fourth side of the building consists of the memorial wall with its imposing work by Sir Jacob Epstein, carved on the spot from a single ten-ton block of Roman stone. A plaster maquette (or miniature) for the work is displayed in the Bevin Room next to the general secretary’s office. It differs from the final work in a number of important respects, most notably that the figure of the soldier carrying a wounded comrade has become a mother carrying her fallen son."

David McFall assisted Epstein with this sculpture.

Site: Trade Union Building - Bloomsbury (2 memorials)

WC1, Great Russell Street, Congress House

Head Office of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The building was designed by David du R Aberdeen and built in 1957 with a courtyard at the centre, open to the sky, holding the Epstein statue, visible from the cafe. c.2016 the courtyard was covered with a transparent roof.

C20 Society writes: "David Aberdeen (1913-1987) was not a prolific architect. His other main works are the Aircraft Assembly Buildings at Filton, Bristol, for which he was joint architect with Eric Ross, 1947-9, and the Swiss Centre in Leicester Square, 1961-8."

June 2024: The Mirror reported: "'Dismay as headquarters of TUC up for sale as trade union memberships plunge'".

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Epstein at TUC

Subjects commemorated i

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came a...

Read More

World War 2

Sorry, we've done no research on WW2, it's just too big a subject. But do vis...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Epstein at TUC

Created by i

Sir Jacob Epstein

Sculptor and painter, renowned for producing controversial works of art that ...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Epstein at TUC

Also at this site i

Trade Union sculpture

Trade Union sculpture

From TUC: "The front of the building is dominated by a bronze sculpture by Be...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Huskisson statue

Huskisson statue

SW1, Millbank, Pimlico Gardens

Noting the stance and the toga, Osbert Sitwell described this statue as "boredom rising from the bath." Peter Duby tells us that the stat...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Imperial Hotel - statue 07 - Mary Queen of Scots

Imperial Hotel - statue 07 - Mary Queen of Scots

WC1, Russell Square

The portrait of Mary Queen of Scots used on Antonia Fraser's book could have been a model for this portrait.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Edward VII statue - gone

Edward VII statue - gone

NW1, Euston Road, 160, Evergreen House

Mapping Sculpture, Sitwell and the eBay Centenary Book all give Hampton as the sculptor. The banishment of this statue from London out t...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Nick Duncombe

Nick Duncombe

TW2, Cranford Way, The Stoop, Harlequins Rugby Ground

{On the front of the plinth:} Nick Duncombe, 1982 - 2003. Harlequins & England. 'Carpe Diem' { Latin: Seize the day}{On the back o...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Lord Portal

Lord Portal

SW1, Victoria Embankment, Victoria Embankment Gardens - Whitehall section

Unveiled by Harold Macmillan.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Andrew Mellor

Andrew Mellor

WC1, Queen Square

Purchased by the Friends of the Children of Great Ormond Street Hospital in memory of Andrew Mellor. April 2001 Sculptor - Patricia Finch

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Sir Arthur Pinero

Sir Arthur Pinero

Born and died in London.

Person, Theatre

1 memorial
Surbiton war memorial - WW2 names

Surbiton war memorial - WW2 names

KT6, Ewell Road

The Belcher plaque is on the stone in the foreground of our photo, and the St Mark's cairn and WW2 memorials behind it.

War dead | WW2
464 subjects commemorated
Kenneth J. Bowles

Kenneth J. Bowles

Auxiliary Fireman Kenneth John Bowles was born on 15 October 1910 in Beckenham, Kent, the second son of Alfred Edward Bowles (b.1879) and Minnie Bowles née Bear (1877-1946). The 1911 census shows h...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Hogarth - Harrow on the Hill

Hogarth - Harrow on the Hill

HA1, Grove Hill, Art School

Looking to connect Hogarth with Harrow we found: c.1800 Crown Street in Harrow was named Hogarth Lane; and Hogarth painted the Graham Chi...

1 subject commemorated