PORTSMOUTH

A trip down the A3 to Portsmouth to check out possible subjects for ‘PhotoWalks’ in 2012. Firstly a bracing walk along the front at Southsea to the NAVAL MEMORIAL, a prominent feature with its obelisk and WW1 memorial by Sir Robert Lorimer, the WW2 memorial by Sir Edward Maufe with sculptures by Sir Charles Wheeler and William McMillan. Figures of sailors and marines all formal and correct but taking good photos was difficult due to the adverse weather (must return when it’s brighter).

SCULPTURE ON LONDON’S BUILDINGS cont.

On Poultry the monumental MIDLAND BANK HEADQUARTERS building (1926-39) by Sir Edwin Lutyens with a ‘Fat boy with a Goose’ sculptures carved by Sir William Reid Dick at each end of the facade.

The BANK OF ENGLAND building (1925-39) is a substantial block by Sir Herbert Baker built within the external walls (1788) by Sir John Soane. On the BoE main elevation overlooking Threadneedle Street impressive sculptures of naked men and semi-naked women by Sir Charles Wheeler and on the opposite side of the building ‘The Lothbury Ladies’ by Wheeler, he was also responsible for the attractive gilded sculpture of ARIEL flying over one corner of the bank.

Tower Hill War Memorial

Tower Hill War Memorial

The MERCANTILE MARINE MEMORIAL commemorates men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars.

The First World War section of the Tower Hill Memorial commemorates almost 12,000 Mercantile Marine casualties, the memorial in Portland Stone was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick. It was unveiled by Queen Mary on 12 December 1928.

The Second World War extension, which commemorates almost 24,000 casualties, was designed by Sir Edward Maufe, with sculpture by Sir Charles Wheeler. It was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 5 November 1955.

The WW11 Memorial takes the form of a sunken garden and has, in addition to a sea of bronze plaques, a set of sculptural panels by Wheeler representing the Seven Seas. I find these sculptures really good with their images of Mermaids, Neptune, Dolphins, fish and shells – quite lively for a war memorial!

Charles Wheeler was also the sculptor for the bronze Mermen sculpture of the Western Fountain in Trafalgar Square.