Byron Statue

We are celebrating a win for the Byron Statue project today as the long campaign to raise funds for its relocation to Hyde Park has succeeded with £230k lottery funding. HOLT has supported the project with a grant and helped the Byron Society's fundraising efforts. Work should start later this year.

Proud Places has already involved nearly 450 young people in the project through assemblies, workshops and visits to the statue which will continue throughout the project. 

HOLT's 2024 Poet for Places, Kira Nelson, wrote a ballad Vyronas in honour of Byron’s bicentenary, visiting some of London's alternative provision schools to teach young people poetry. With Kira's support, students at Ormiston Latimer Academy overcame their poetry inhibitions and produced wonderful poems inspired by the project.

Read more in the article below published in today's Times newspaper.

More articles:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20pgye9w65o

https://londonist.com/london/latest-news/lord-byron-statue-to-be-moved

https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/news/society-receives-230280-to-rescue-statue-of-19th-century-poet/

HOLT in C20 Magazine

The latest edition of The Twentieth Century Society's C20 magazine has a double-page-spread profile on some recent HOLT projects.

We were delighted to see The Leaning Woman, FHK Henrion Street sculpture, United Service Transport Mosaic and Southgate Parade Clock in the spotlight.

The Twentieth Century Society campaigns to save outstanding 20th century buildings and design across Britain and as organisations we share many interests – we’ve been thrilled to restore these ones above and have many more coming up in 2025.

Read more here:

Restoration of ‘Bull’ by Robert Clatworthy

Today we unveiled the beautifully restored ‘Bull’ statue by artist Robert Clatworthy, created in 1961 and commissioned as part of the London County Council's post-War Patronage of the Arts Scheme. The inspiration was a bull in the field next to the sculptor's studio in Sussex: Clatworthy wanted to capture its ‘sheer physical power'. The bronze bull is ten feet long, and listed Grade II* - a “heroic yet friendly” animal in the 18th century landscape around the 1950s Alton Estate in Roehampton.

Restoration included removal of dirt, spray paint and corrosion, a repatination and rewaxing. Roehampton Church Forest School and The Alton Primary School joined us as part of our Proud Places programme to read poems and answer a quiz on the statue, Councillor Sana Jafri, Mayor of Wandsworth made a speech and Jeremiah Evans, age 10, unveiled the Bull with Tom Henderson from the Syncona Foundation and our President Martin Drury.

The Mayor of Wandsworth said:

“This much-loved sculpture has stood here in Roehampton for over 60 years as a testament to resilience and creativity. As we unveil the restored bull, we’re proud of the local legacy it represents. Our thanks go to the Heritage of London Trust, whose support made this restoration possible, preserving Alton’s cultural history for future generations.”

Laylan, age 14:

“I think the small monuments are what make the community as not everyone has access to see the bigger ones, but the little ones add on to the history of your community, and I think it’s great to get involved with them, so you can appreciate your community more”

Local resident Stephen Ballard said: 

“I was living across the street when they first installed the sculpture in 1961, after my family moved here in 1958. I was about six at the time and I remember the lead up to it, as they told us they were going to build something here. It was either going to be a children’s playground, a paddling pool, or a bull sculpture. I can remember it like it was yesterday, we weren’t too happy at first because we wanted a playground. But they made the right decision because it has lasted and it’s a magnificent piece in the area. It’s good to see it restored.”

Passer-by Clifford Greenfield, who also lives on the Alton Estate, said:

"I've lived down here for 20-odd years so I know the area well. My dad used to have a book about the history of Roehampton and I loved reading through it. I'm really pleased about the restoration, the Bull is like anything else, it has to be looked after doesn't it? I came down the other day and was pleased to see a plaque there so everyone can read about it. It's brilliant for the residents."

Thanks to all who came to celebrate with us!