Statue: William IV statue
{Front of the plinth:}
William IV, born 1765, died 1837.
{Right of statue base:}
Nixon
{On a plaque attached to the horizontal surface of one of the steps:
the City of London crest, followed by:}
This statue stood formerly in King William Street in the City of London where it was set up in 1845. It was removed to this site and presented to H. M. Office of Works by the Corporation of the City of London in 1936.
Originally erected, December 1844, in the City, at the junction of King William Street and Cannon Street, facing down to London Bridge. He and his queen, Adelaide, had opened the Rennie London Bridge in 1831 so this was a good position. As traffic increased the statue had to be moved and the Greenwich Park site was chosen in 1935, it having just become available following the demolition of the church. Alamy have a photo of it being prepared for transportation.
Said to be the first statue in London in granite (a very hard stone), in the naturalistic style which was then new and fashionable. Seems the estimate for the job did not allow for the difficulties that granite presented; Nixon's finances were nearly ruined by this commission. Other London granite statues include: Baden-Powell, and the Crutched Friars.
Belongs to a select group of statues which become rude when viewed from a particular position. Another example is the Neptune in Bologna. No one can accuse us of being too highbrow.
Site: William IV statue (2 memorials)
SE10, King William Walk, St Mary's Gate into Greenwich Park
