Statues - Hither & Thither

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Liverpool
Merseyside
North West England

St John's Gardens (L1)

Alexander Balfour

Leven, Fife 1824 - Rossett, Wrexham 1886
Scottish merchant and founder of the Liverpool shipping company Balfour Williamson; philantropist
(Wikipedia)

Albert Bruce-Joy
H. Young & co. (London)
1889

Description

Statue of Alexander Balfour in contemporary dress, wears an Inverness cape over an open frock-coat. It was unveiled on 23 November 1889.

Inscription(s)

ALEXANDER BALFOUR
merchant and shipowner
born 2^nd september 1824.
died 6^th april 1886

his life was devoted to god.
in noble and munificent efforts
for the benefit of sailors,
the education of the people,
and
the promotion of all good works.

this statue, erected by public
subscribtion was unveiled
on the 15^th day of november 1889.

Signature

a. bruce joy sc. 1889
h. young & co. art founders. london

St John's Gardens

The spot of the St John the Baptist church - demolished in 1898 - at it's cemetery - full in 1854 - was redeveloped and opened in 1904 as 'St John's Ornamental and Memorial Gardens'. The gardens were designed by the corporation surveyor Thomas Shelmerdine. In addition to the creation of flower beds, the gardens contain an assemblage of six statues of great men connected with Liverpool and the King's Liverpool Regiment monument.

In chronological order:

Alexander Balfour, by Albert Bruce-Joy, 1889.*
William Rathbone VI, by George Frampton, 1901.
Sir Arthur Bower Forwood, by George Frampton, 1903.
William Gladstone, by Thomas Brock, 1904.
The King's Liverpool Regiment Monument, by W. Goscombe John, 1905.
James Nugent, by Frederick Pomeroy, 1906.
T. Major Lester, by George Frampton, 1907.
RoadPeace Monument, by Tom Murphy, 2005.

* The Balfour statue was erected before the replanning of the area, it was later moved eastwards to its present location.

Sculptor

Albert Bruce-Joy (Dublin 1842 - Shottermill 1924), Irish sculptor, specialized in portrait statues, busts and medallions (Wikipedia)
Kineton Parkes, Sculpture of To-day (New York 1922 ), pp. 151-153.

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, List of public art in Liverpool.
Terry Cavanagh, Public Sculpture of Liverpool. Liverpool University Press, 1997, p. 170-171.
The Victorian Web, Liverpool Architecture and Cityscapes.
Friends of Liverpool Monuments Civic Society, Liverpool Monuments.
Bob Speel, Statues in St John's Gardens, Liverpool.
Liverpool Daily Post, 25 Nov. 1889 (British Newspaper Archive).

Locatie (N 53°24'33" - W 2°58'51") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbnw075; Photograph: 18 June 2023
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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