Sculpture

The Vintners

Erection date: 11/7/2007

Inscription

{On the front of the small stone plinth:}
The barge master & swan marker of The Vintners Company

{Inscribed on an elbow:} WDR

{Inscribed on a shoe:}
V V '07 {initially misread as W '07}

Believed to be the first public sculpture in London commissioned by a Livery Company. We would have expected the inscriptions (WDR and W) to refer to the sculptor but perhaps it's the founder. The Vintners and Dyers Companies share in the ownership of mute swans with the monarch and it is their job to catch and ring them in a ceremony known as 'swan upping' done each June. See A London Inheritance for info including photos. The Swan Marker is in charge of the Vintners’ Swan Uppers for the event, but also wears the uniform of Barge Master, dating back to the time when the Company owned a ceremonial barge on the Thames.

2023: We were pleased to receive this contact: 'The Vintners' Statue in Little Trinity Lane, EC4: Info from Past Master David Robson: "My daughter Emma came across this entry on the London Remembers website. It speculates about the inscriptions. WDR is of course me and was my gift following my year as Master. W is indeed the sculptor's sig Vivien Matlock but is in fact a double VV [as in Viv] not a W! Might it be public spirited to tell LR so they can update their entry? Best wishes David" I can add that the statue shows the late Martin Spencer as Swan Marker and Barge Master, and is a very good likeness. Stephen Freeth, Company Archivist'  Thank you David and Stephen - we have updated this page accordingly.

Site: The Vintners (1 memorial)

EC4, Little Trinity Lane

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:
The Vintners

Subjects commemorated i

Vintners' Company

One of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. Its origins s...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
The Vintners

Created by i

Vivien Mallock

Sculptor active 2000.  Her own website.

Read More

David Robson

Master of the Vintners' Company in 2006.

Read More

Martin Spencer

Swan Marker and Barge Master of the Vinters Company c.2006-7. Modelled for th...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

St Mary Abbots - girl

St Mary Abbots - girl

W8, Kensington Church Walk, St Mary Abbots Primary School

The net seems undecided how many 't's there are in Abbotts, but the school has settled on just one. The school's history page provides t...

1 subject commemorated
Wimpey

Wimpey

EC3, Aldgate High Street

OK, a bit Henry Moore-lite but we like this piece although the setting rather lets it down.  But we love the Christmas-decorated pub in t...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Southwark Gateway Needle

Southwark Gateway Needle

SE1, London Bridge

The inclined needle is made of Portland stone, 16m high. It won a Natural Stone Craftsmanship Award 2000. We could find no plaque and th...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Plough Lane Landmark

Plough Lane Landmark

SW19, Plough Lane

The artist's website has a photo of the textured surface in the studio. Our location shot shows WFC's double-headed eagle on one side of...

3 subjects commemorated, 7 creators
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

Previously viewed

Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten

Composer. Born Lowestoft on St Cecilia's Day (patron saint of music). Royal College of Music, Founder of English Opera Group 1946 and the Aldeburgh Festival. Composer of opera Peter Grimes and othe...

Person, Music / songs, Seriously Famous, Germany, USA

3 memorials
42nd Royal Highlanders

42nd Royal Highlanders

W1, Hyde Park Corner

The large terrace area around the statue is worth commenting on. It's clearly original and has somehow survived. There are 4 concentric...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Nine Elms Motive Power

Nine Elms Motive Power

SE1, Waterloo Station

Southern Railway (SR on the plaque) lost their ownership of Waterloo when the railways were nationalised in 1948 so the plaque was probab...

War dead | WW2
16 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Bethnal Green WW2 disaster - monument

Bethnal Green WW2 disaster - monument

E2, Roman Road

We have transcribed all the names and the main plaque. Scattered across the top surface of the monument are 15 other plaques, each giving...

Civilian war dead | WW2
176 subjects commemorated, 1 creator