Statues - Hither & Thither

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Cornhill (EC3)

James Henry Greathead

Grahamstown, South Africa 1844 - London 1896
civil engineer renowned for his work on the London Underground railway
(Wikipedia)

James Walter Butler
1994

Description

Bronze statue of Greathead, studying a plan.
On the sides of the plinth are medaillons and text:

(north) Bronze relief depicting eight men shovelling and manually transporting earth. They are inside a multi-jointed ring which is presumably the travelling shield. The relief is circumscribed: JAMES HENRY GREATHEAD 1844-1896.
(south) Stone relief including two badges, water and a bridge, circumscribed: CITY AND SOUTH LONDON RAILWAY.

London - James Henry Greathead

Inscription(s)

J.H. GREATHEAD
chief engineer
city and south london railway

inventor of the travelling shield
that made possible the cutting
of the tunnels of london's
deep level tube system

Annotation

The plinth hides a ventilation shaft for the Underground.

Sculptor

James Walter Butler RA (London 1931), British sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, List of public art in the City of London.
Peter Matthews, London's Statues and Monuments (Botley: Shire, 2012), p. 88.
Andrew Kershman, London's Monuments (London: Metro Publ., 2013), p. 201.
London Remembers, Memorials.

Locatie (N 51°30'47" - W 0°5'16") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gblo146; Photograph: 7 August 2014
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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