Sculpture

Imperial Institute lions

Of the four lions that used to flank the entrance to the Imperial Institute two remain here, the other two were taken to the Commonwealth Institute in Holland Park.

2018: Helen Allen contacted us to say that the lions are by Harry Dixon, 1892, and we found confirmation of that at Liss Llewellyn. Thanks Helen.

Site: Queen's Tower - IC (2 memorials)

SW7, Imperial College Road, Queen's Tower

The day we visited seemed to be “Theodolite Day” – a local custom in which the lads and lasses bring their theodolites out onto the village green and, well, perform theodolisation, we guess.

A nearby information board gives: "The Queen's Tower is all that remains of the Imperial Institute, which was built to mark Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.  It was 700 feet long with a central tower (the Queen's Tower) and smaller towers at the east and west ends {one tower at each end}.  When it was to be demolished in the early 1960s, the Victorian Society and John Betjeman campaigned against total demolition and the Queen's Tower was saved.
The Queen's Tower is 287 feet tall, clad in Portland stone and topped by a copper covered dome.  the internal wooden structure of the dome is an interesting example of Victorian craftsmanship.  Near the entrance to the tower are two large stone lions.  These are two of the four lions which flanked the entrance to the Imperial Institute.  The other two are now at the Commonwealth Institute in Holland Park.
The belfry contains the Alexandra peal of 10 bells.  Each bell is separately named after members of the Royal family - Queen Victoria, her three sons, her daughter-in-law Alexandra and her five Wales grand-children.  the bells are now rung on Royal Anniversaries between 1 and 2pm."

The architect of The Imperial Institute was T. E. Collcutt.  The building was demolished to make space for Imperial College which was expanding all around it.

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:
Imperial Institute lions

Subjects commemorated i

Imperial Institute

Established in 1887 to promote research that would benefit the British Empire...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Imperial Institute lions

Created by i

Harry Dixon

Sculptor, painter, illustrator. Born Watford, son of the photographer, Henry ...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Imperial Institute lions

Also at this site i

Queen's Tower - IC

Queen's Tower - IC

The stone was laid only 14 days into her 51st year so we're taking this as a ...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Roman boat - Guys Cancer Centre

Roman boat - Guys Cancer Centre

SE1, Great Maze Pond, Guy's Cancer Centre

A boat or a particularly vicious knuckle-duster? We have assumed that the Boat was erected/unveiled on the day that the building was ope...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Street Orderly Boy

Street Orderly Boy

W1, Paddington Street Gardens

Marble. "Street Orderly Boy" is an old name for a street cleaner - see Cat's Meat Shop for the job specification. This statue was placed...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Derwent Wood sculpture

Derwent Wood sculpture

SW3, Chelsea Embankment

Difficult to photograph this young lady without making it look as if she's shyly fingering her right nipple, which she's not.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Surrey Commercial Docks - relief model

Surrey Commercial Docks - relief model

SE16, Stave Hill

In 1985 the William Curtis Ecological Park was returned to the site owner, the London Docklands Development Corporation, who provided thi...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
There but not there

There but not there

NW6, Queen's Park

The south-east corner of this park is a fenced off formal garden, through which one can walk. We visited on the Saturday before Remembran...

1 subject commemorated