Richard Cobden Statue

Richard Cobden (1804-1865) was born near Midhurst in Sussex, one of eleven children. In 1819 he became a clerk in a London calico warehouse, followed by three years as a commercial traveller in Belgium. Cobden returned to England and in 1831 set up a calico print works at Sabden in Lancashire. In 1835, he visited America and published his first pamphlet, entitled England, Ireland and America, by a Manchester Manufacturer, promoting free trade as the key to better international relations. He became a prominent figure in Manchester.

The Corn Laws – taxes on imported grain – had been established in 1815 to keep prices high for cereal producers in Great Britain. But when food supplies were short, these prices were too high for the poor, particularly the urban poor, to afford. The laws were supported by Conservative landowners but opposed by Whig industrialists. Cobden founded the national ‘Anti-Corn Law League’ which he argued would lead to better prices for all and international fellowship. The League was successful and the Corn Laws were repealed in 1846 with the support of Sir Robert Peel. Cobden’s creation of a remarkably powerful and well-funded national lobbying group became a model for later reform groups.

Cobden was the country’s most famous radical and visited in succession France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Russia, honoured everywhere he went. He campaigned against the Opium Wars, pro a treaty with France, anti the Confederacy in the American civil war. When he died in 1865 the French said this was “a cause of mourning for France and humanity”. The statue in Mornington Crescent, carved by the distinguished Wills brothers and unveiled in 1868 was part-financed by Napoleon III.

The Sicilian marble statue has eroded over time, most notably the face. Photos of the statue from the mid-20th century show the face still largely intact, indicating the worst erosion has occurred in more recent decades, although the statue’s List Description (1974) notes that even then the statue was ‘badly weathered’.

There is now severe damage and loss to the features of the face. There are some previous resin repairs to Cobden’s coat, which have deteriorated badly and now appear unsympathetic to the surrounding areas. There is pigeon soiling, which has led to general darkening of the stonework and minor build up sulphate crust. The plinth is in overall good condition, however there is surface erosion, blistering and pitting throughout.

Restoration will involve cleaning, poulticing and then close inspection. All missing and damaged features to the face and head should be repaired with either new marble sections to match the existing, or hybrid mortar, matching the existing as closely as possible. In either case, the missing elements are to be modelled in clay in situ to allow for comment and adjustment. Previous discoloured or failed polyester resin repairs will be reinstated in a stable light fast resin and crushed stone dust mix. Missing lettering on the plinth may be sympathetically re-carved to improve legibility. Joints will be repointed. Pigeon spikes or another pigeon deterrent will be added.