Statue

Nigel Gresley statue

Nigel Gresley statue Nigel Gresley statue

Erection date: 5/4/2016

Inscription

{On a plaque attached to the wall behind:}
Sir Nigel Gresley, 1876 – 1941
Chief Mechanical Engineer
1911 – 1923 Great Northern Railway,
1923 – 1941 London & North Eastern Railway.
Based in an office at this station, he designed powerful, elegant and fast locomotives including the world famous “Flying Scotsman” and “Mallard”, the fastest steam locomotive in the world. His streamlined trains departed from this station. They set new standards of comfort, speed and safety and were the first truly high speed trains.
Sculptor: Hazel Reeves FRSA
Placed by the Gresley Society Trust on 15th April 2016, the 75th anniversary of his death.
www.gresley.org

{Gresley holds in his left hand a magazine:}
The Locomotive
LNER Mallard
KC Blast Pipe

Our photo shows the statue shortly after unveiling, with only a temporary notice. By February 2017 this had been replaced with a plaque. Unveiled on the 75th anniversary of Sir Nigel’s death.

Site: Nigel Gresley statue (1 memorial)

N1, King's Cross Station, King's Cross Station

As widely reported this statue was originally designed with a duck companion, at Sir Nigel's feet: "According to a planning application, artist Hazel Reeves included the duck not only in a nod to the Mallard, but because Sir Nigel was famous for feeding ducks at his Hertfordshire home." But then came the great duck debate - the family and others did not want the duck. As you see in our photo the "no bird" lobby won the day but it it was a close-fought battle, even drawing the Guardian into the fray. This controversy kept the statue world enthralled for almost two years. We were pro-duckers; which side were you on?

The Guardian's report on the controversy has a photo of the statue - with duck.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Nigel Gresley statue

Subjects commemorated i

Sir Nigel Gresley

Locomotive engineer. Born Edinburgh into a family that arrived with William t...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Nigel Gresley statue

Created by i

Gresley Society Trust

From the Trust's website: "Our purpose is to study and celebrate the life and...

Read More

Hazel Reeves

Our picture comes from the video of the unveiling of the Gresley statue, on R...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Queen Alexandra statue

Queen Alexandra statue

E1, Whitechapel Road, Royal London Hospital

The two plaques are on the building behind the statue. 2019: Londonist reported that this hospital is going "About To Undergo A Stunning...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Westminster School - old boys - 4 - Henry III

Westminster School - old boys - 4 - Henry III

SW1, Broad Sanctuary

From Westminster's Conservation Audit: This Listed grade II monument was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. It is in a high Victorian ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Lord Nelson - Greenwich

Lord Nelson - Greenwich

SE10, Park Row, 27, Trafalgar Tavern

The sculptor Lesley Pover was commissioned by the Trafalgar Tavern to produce the statue for the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Sir Sydney H Waterlow - Highgate statue

Sir Sydney H Waterlow - Highgate statue

N6, Waterlow Park

Bronze. Unveiled by Princess of Argyll 20 July 1900. A year later another version was unveiled at Westminster City School. Are these the ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Westminster Abbey I - Lucian Tapiede

Westminster Abbey I - Lucian Tapiede

SW1, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey - west porch

Fourteen niches on the West Front remained empty since the Abbey was built until 1998 when they were filled. The lower four are filled wi...

1 subject commemorated, 4 creators