Statue

Holborn Viaduct - Walworth

Erection date: 1868

Inscription

{On a granite plaque below the statue:}
Sir William Walworth, Mayor 1374 to 1375 and 1380 to 1381.

The sword he sports represents the one which removed Tyler's head, the original of which (the sword, not the head) is on display at the Fishmongers' Company.

Site: Holborn Viaduct - Walworth (1 memorial)

EC4, Holborn Viaduct

Holborn Viaduct, built across the Fleet valley to connect Holborn with Newgate Street, was opened by Queen Victoria on 6 November 1869, the same day she opened Blackfriars Bridge. The development included buildings, or pavilions, designed by William Haywood, at each corner, each housing a flight of steps linking Holborn Viaduct with Farringdon Street below and displaying a statue on the first floor facade. The firm Farmer & Brindley produced much of the sculpture, but not the statues.

On the bridge itself are four bronze statues, of scantily dressed women representing Fine Arts, Science, Agriculture and Commerce.

Holborn Viaduct is watched over by four memorial statues:
north-west corner - Walworth (rebuilt c.2001)
south-west corner - Fitz Eylwin
south-east corner - Gresham
north-east corner - Myddelton (rebuilt c.2014)

The sculptor of all 4 statues and Commerce and Agriculture was Henry Bursill. For more info on the Viaduct see Patrick Baty.

A London Inheritance have a photo to show that this pavilion is a replica of the original which was badly damaged in WW2. The first reconstruction of this corner had a massive Atlantic House covering the whole site but in 2001 that was replaced with this, at least equally massive, building but with this recreation of the pavilion on the corner.

Engineering Tmelines has a full history of the Viaduct. Ian Visits has photographed the 4 stairwells.

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:
Holborn Viaduct - Walworth

Subjects commemorated i

Sir William Walworth

Fishmonger and Mayor 1374 to 1375 and 1380 to 1381. During the Peasants' Revo...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Holborn Viaduct - Walworth

Created by i

Henry Bursill

Bursill also sculpted the allegorical statues on Holborn bridge and seems to ...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Wilfred Lawson

Wilfred Lawson

WC2, Victoria Embankment Gardens

This statue original had figures representing Temperance, Peace, Fortitude and Charity but they were stolen in 1979.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
6 Burlington Gardens - Archimedes

6 Burlington Gardens - Archimedes

W1, Burlington Gardens, 6

There are 22 statues on the façade of this building. Each is labelled with his (always 'his') surname. There are 12 at the top up against...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Colonial Office - S11 - Lewis

Colonial Office - S11 - Lewis

SW1, Whitehall, Foreign Office

Statues Hither and Thither has been invaluable in identifying some of the busts and most of the statues. The statues are not labelled and...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Sir Thomas Gresham statue

Sir Thomas Gresham statue

EC3, Royal Exchange Buildings, Royal Exchange campanile

The campanile where this statue is sited is 177 feet high.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Earl Haig

Earl Haig

SW1, Whitehall

The stance of the horse has been criticised since the position of the hind legs suggest urination. Probably not what was intended. We th...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators

Previously viewed

Fred E. Chick

Fred E. Chick

Former official at Charlton Athletic F.C.. Killed on the Somme whilst serving with the 13th Middlesex Regiment.

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
G. C. Felsenstein

G. C. Felsenstein

Resident of Golders Green killed serving in WW2.

Person

War dead, WW2
1 memorial