Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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Leeds City Statues: Political and Powerful
The streets of Leeds city centre seem to be decorated with many bronze, high authority (at the time of building) statues which have been here many, many years. This blog post aims to dispel rumours and consolidate controversies created around the subjects of choice. Also, to delve into ideas of civic pride and why they were put there. It would be almost impossible to go into detail about every bronze statue of power in Leeds… so here are a select few chosen just for you!
Edward The Black Prince (1312-1376)
On the surface, Edward has little to do with any personal connection to the city. However, he was very much a decorated and celebrated medieval warrior and had everything to do with Victorian Culture. Leeds was practically re-branded during the nineteenth century. Looking at old images of City Square, you can see how he aesthetically fits. It’s obvious that there was a love for Victorian Gothic style which was a late nineteenth century development from the earlier late-Georgian Gothic Revival. Edward the Black Prince mounted upon his horse, is essentially showing him powerfully striding through an idealised Victorian medieval inspired city. The City Square was surrounded by high Victorian buildings such as Mill Hill Chapel on Park Row, and The Post Office building behind him.
Take a Look at this postcard from the statue unveiling, do you notice the gothic architecture and the similarities of the city today?
Contemporary postcard showing the official opening of the Black Prince statue (Image photgraphed from a primary source)
The Black Prince was a large part of popular culture during the nineteenth century. Following an increase of children learning to read, therefore a developed a market for children’s books. Tales of medieval and imperial themed stories were very popular… and he was the star of the show! Queen Victoria was particularly influenced by the romantic tales of the Black Prince. It is noted in her personal diaries in August 1836 when her governess started reading to her The History of the Life of Edward the Black Prince, by G.P.R.James. As well, the commissioner of the Black Prince, Thomas Walter Harding saw the Black prince as a comparison to Edward VII, who opened the LGI in 1867 and the Yorkshire College buildings in 1885. With the Black Prince being so popular in Victorian culture, you could see why he was put up in the middle of the city, almost like a celebrity!
Queen Victoria (1819-1901)
If you didn’t know who the Black Prince was, you most definitely (should) know who Queen Victoria was. Queen Victoria reigned between 1837-1901, so there are no surprises that people treated her like a superstar when she made her visit to Leeds in 1858. She visited the city to open the Town Hall, which subsequently had a statue of her outside. She has since moved to Woodhouse Moor, where she still resides today.
Over the past year, with the resurgence of BLM protests due to racial injustice and the murder of George Floyd, Victoria has come under controversy. Whilst it is important to remember that during her reign, she was seen as great, powerful female leader and was loved by most (the reason why her statue was put up in her memory in 1905), it is just as important to be clear about her darker past and why she may not be popular today.
People have vandalised and pushed to take the statue down due to the imperialist ideals she held. The slave trade was abolished in 1807 in the UK and slavery itself was finally abolished officially in 1833. However, the British empire (and therefore colonisation) grew and was at its height during her reign. Whilst Victoria was in power, the British empire comprised more than 25% of the land surface of the entire world. The effects of the British empire on colonised countries were devastating as Britain pushed white, western ideologies and exploitation for their own industrial power. Others feel that Victorias statue still stay, as some histories need to be remembered, so they do not happen again.
[Image below by 'Chemical Engineer' via Wikimedia Commons]
The statue of Queen Victoria on Woodhouse Moor
The Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)
When his statue was first unveiled, people loved it. He was known as a great military leader (just like the Black Prince!) as he helped win the Battle of Waterloo and defeat of Napoleon on the 18th June 1815. He was also Prime Minister from 1828-1830, so you could say he had a successful life. He was one of the most famous leading political and military figures, so it is understandable why the people of Leeds memorialised him in bronze form.
However, just like Victoria, he has a dark past of Imperialism that needs to be brought to the light.
The duke had a large part within the early Indian campaigns for eight years which helped to sustain colonial rule. This therefore sustains exploitation within the British empire. Recently, the duke can be seen with red painted boots. This was done in protest to represent the blood shed within colonial rule.
[Image below by 'Chemical Engineer' via Wikimedia Commons]
The Duke of Wellington statue on Woodhouse Moor
Social history projects
Posts written by students on the BA (Hons) History course as part of the 'Social History' module.
