Walter Hook (1798 – 1875)

(Alson known as Dr Hook or Dean Hook)

Biography

Walter Farquhar Hook, Dean of Chichester, was born as in London as the eldest child to his father Revd James Hook and mother Anne Farquhar. Hook’s grandfather (Sir Walter Farquhar) obtained a nomination from the Prince Regent to a studentship at Christ Church, Oxford in 1817, which he was glad to graduate from in 1821, and subsequently went on to obtain his MA in 1824, and his BD and DD in 1837. His life of comparative indolence changed completely after his ordination as deacon in September 1821. He built a small hut for himself where he studied ten-hours a day working through a detailed plan of church history and theology. In 1837 he became Vicar of Leeds, and it was his work there over the following twenty-two years as a pioneer in restoring the position of the Church of England in the new industrial towns that marked it as one of the most important parochial ministries of the nineteenth century.

Context

The statue was unveiled as one of four to celebrate Leeds becoming a city in 1893, being officially erected in 1903, the date the layout of the new City Square was completed. The layout of the square was changed in the early 2000s and traffic restricted. Hook’s and the other three statues were moved to stand near to the old post office building that has now been converted to restaurants and apartments. In the future, a £3.5 million development is planned, including transforming parts of the City Square into a woodland glade with trees and water features, though no specific plans for the statues have yet been revealed.

The statue

Date Erected:
Created: 1899. Erected: 1903

Artist:
Frederick W. Pomeroy (1856 – 1924)

Commissioned / funded by:
Gifted to the city by T. Walter Harding, 1903 (owner of Tower Works) who also paid for the construction of City Square itself.

Format and materials:
Polished granite plinth with a bronze plaque and raised lettering ‘Dr. Hook Vicar of Leeds 1837 - 1859.’

Location:
Situated in Leeds City Square amongst three other statues of prominent men, Joseph Priestley, John Harrison, and James Watt. Hook’s, statue was in front of the Old Leeds Post Office (now bar and restaurant, Banyan). hook’s statue is paired next to statue of Scientist, Joseph Priestley.

Description:
Hook’s statue is a bronze sculpture positioned in line with 3 other statues of prominent male figures.

His statue appears to be preaching, wearing his cassock, stole and preaching scarf. His right arm is held high in the air, whilst his left is at his side holding a bible, with two fingers marking his page as to not lose his place in the book. The plinth has the following inscription in small, ‘THE GIFT OF T. WALTER HARDING 1903.’, followed by ‘DR. HOOK VICAR OF LEEDS 1837 - 1859.' In a much larger font.

Sources

• BBC News (2021) Leeds City Square: New images give first looks at £3.5m development plan.
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
• Historic England: STATUE OF DEAN HOOK, Non Civil Parish - 1375032 | Historic England

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]