The popular statue of King George III was once part of a full height statue placed on top of Dunston Pillar in 1810 in celebration of the King’s Golden Jubilee.
Robert Hobart, the 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire commissioned the statue and had it placed on Dunston Pillar to mark George III’s fifty year reign which was celebrated by the nation on 25th October 1809. Although George III’s Jubilee was the third royal Golden Jubilee in British history, after Henry III (1266) and Edward III (1377), it is the first one to have records of the public celebrations. The pealing of bells, special church services, bands playing, firework displays, feasting and the unveiling of statues all had their part to play up and down the country.
Lincoln’s festivities began with the pealing of bells and at 9 o’clock the mayor and corporation breakfasted at the Rein Deer Inn, followed by a service at St Peter’s Church. A subscription was made in all the parishes so that the poor could also enjoy the occasion. The festivities in other towns in Lincolnshire included church services, teas and dinners. The serving of plum bread featured as a special treat.
The statue was removed from Dunston Pillar in 1941 as it was judged by the Royal Air Force to be hazardous to aeroplanes then based at airfields on Lincoln Heath. Parts of the statue, which was made of the artificial stone called “Coade”, were broken in this process. In 1956 the statue was given to the Lincolnshire Local History Society, and the fragments were delivered to Lincoln Castle and stacked in the masons’ yard. Much dialogue followed and it took until the early 1970s when approval was finally given for its restoration and the bust was put on display in the grounds of the Castle. Specialist restoration was undertaken by Coade Ltd in 2010, but the rest of the statue is in storage at Lincoln Castle until such time as further restoration can be undertaken.
About the statue:
The 15 foot tall statue was manufactured from a special formulation of fired clay, marketed as “artificial stone” and known as Coade. Eleanor Coade invented the material and produced her mouldings and statuary in her Lambeth factory from 1769. The material, which Eleanor Coade called Lithodopia2, was extremely weather-resistant and versatile. The objects were first moulded in ordinary clay from which plaster moulds were made. The Coade clay would then be rolled into sheets and press moulded by hand into the plaster. After drying, the several sections would be assembled and finally fired in large kilns.
Eleanor Coade had a royal appointment to George III for whom she made the Gothic screen at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
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FAQs
The popular statue of King George III was once part of a full height statue placed on top of Dunston Pillar in 1810 in celebration of the King's Golden Jubilee.
Who is the statue in Lincoln Castle? ›
STATUE OF GEORGE III 30 METRES SOUTH OF NORTH WALL OF LINCOLN CASTLE.
Why was King George III statue removed? ›
Tearing down this statue symbolized the end of the tyrannical rule of King George III… it also happened to be melted down afterwards to make 42,088 musket balls for the Continental Army.
Are there any statues of King George the Third in the United States? ›
Yes and I'm so glad you asked this question. A gilded lead equestrian statue of King George III was placed in Bowling Green Park, New York City in the 18th century. Early in the Revolution it was toppled and dismantled by a mob (people don't change much).
What does the King George statue symbolize? ›
The King George statue is symbolic of Great Britain's ruling power over the colonies. The statue is a big "golden" statue of King George riding a horse. It is an incredibly powerful-seeming statue that commands respect, yet Isabel notices that the statue commands more respect when the sun is out.
Which king built Lincoln Castle? ›
Built almost 1000 years ago by William the Conqueror, Lincoln Castle has witnessed some of the most dramatic events in English history.
What statue of Lincoln was removed? ›
Boston To Remove Statue Depicting Abraham Lincoln With Freed Black Man At His Feet. "The decision for removal acknowledged the statue's role in perpetuating harmful prejudices and obscuring the role of Black Americans in shaping the nation's freedoms," according to the mayor's office.
Why did they pull down King George statue? ›
Enthusiasm for the American Revolution led colonists to burn, disfigure, and deface any symbol of Britain and its hated king.
Where is King George 3 buried? ›
Under the care of his second son Frederick, Duke of York, King George III lived on until January 29, 1820, six days after the death of his fourth son, Edward, Duke of Kent. His remains were buried at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in the Royal Tomb House that he had constructed under St.
Who are the people that pulled down the statue of King George III? ›
Pulling down the statue of George III by the "Sons of Freedom," at the Bowling Green, City of New York, July 1776 / painted by Johannes A. Oertel ; engraved by John C. McRae.
He had a mental illness characterised by acute mania. Until the mid-20th century, the King's illness was generally considered to be psychological. In 1966, a study by Ida Macalpine and Richard Hunter suggested that the illness was physiological, caused by the liver disorder porphyria.
What did King George the Third look like in real life? ›
Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue
29 January 1820 (eleven weeks after his Queen). 'a tall, well-built man, in later life inclining to stoutness, with a good leg ... The most prominent features of his face were a high forehead, protruding eyes, a large nose, thick lips, and a dimpled chin ... His complexion was ruddy.
Was King George III a Mason? ›
Frederick Lewis's eldest son, who would become King George III, was not a Freemason, but six of George's children were.
What happened to the statue of King George III? ›
Stirred up after hearing the Declaration of Independence read publicly on July 9, 1776, the so-called Sons of Freedom—a mix of George Washington's soldiers and civilians—tear down a statue of the British monarch George III in New York City.
When was the King George statue removed? ›
King George V's statue was removed around August 1968 from the canopy opposite India Gate. It was relocated on a plinth in Coronation Park, directly opposite the Obelisk. The final Durbar was organised in 1911 at the same venue as the two previous ones.
What do the people do to the King George statue in chains? ›
She witnesses men topple a statue of King George in the town green, only to discover that it was not made of gold but of lead, so they chop it up to be melted down to bullets. Isabel picks up a sliver of lead and puts it into her pocket.
Why is there a statue of Tennyson in Lincoln? ›
After Alfred, Lord Tennyson died in 1892, George offered to create a memorial statue to honour his close friend. The finished bronze can still be seen in its original location outside Lincoln Cathedral.
What does the Abraham Lincoln statue represent? ›
The Lincoln Memorial National Memorial honors the 16th and perhaps greatest president of the United States, and symbolizes his belief in the freedom and dignity of all people.
Why is there a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Spokane? ›
Lewis briefly lived in Spokane, and even though many cities were interested in buying the sculpture of Lincoln, Lewis was willing to work with the Association to raise the remaining funds for a few extra years. The statue was placed in the heart of Spokane's downtown, on the corner of Monroe Street and Main Avenue.
Why is there an Abraham Lincoln statue in England? ›
Lincoln and London commemoration
George Grey Barnard's bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln was originally intended to stand outside the Houses of Parliament, a tribute from the USA to Britain to mark the 100 years of unbroken peace that had existed between the two countries since 1814.
