In 1887, the British Empire celebrated Victoria’s Golden Jubilee on 20th June 1887, and a statue of Queen Victoria was presented by Edwin Trendell, and unveiled in Abingdon by Lord Wantage two days earlier.
The pedestal, of Portland stone is about seven feet high; the statue of Sycilian marble, nearly eight feet high, making the monument about fifteen feet high.
On her head Queen Victoria has a small crown with a veil. In her right hand she holds a sceptre, and in the left, instead of the more usual globe, she holds a lotus blossom to signify the Imperial reign in India. She wears a heavy velvet cloak with a lighter satin dress, and a sash as Sovereign of the Order of the Garter, a company of up to 24 Knights and lady companions.
The statue is to be found in the Abbey Gardens in Abingdon, about 50 yards from the original and more prominent position in the Market Place.
Uncle, who sadly passed two years ago age 94, fondly told me many times how, while working for the old Borough town council, he was tasked with moving Victoria from the market place to her present site, asking why she was moved he said it was because of concerns that the rides and equipment of Abingdon fair, (getting bigger by the year) would eventually cause damage to the piece, he also spoke of placing a few coins of the realm under her too !
“Unc” worked for the Borough from leaving school at 14, and then transferred to the newly created Vale in the 70’s, the pinnacle of his life long work for the town was being presented with the B E M on his retirement.
Thanks Capt K – there are several stories around about the reason for the move: another was the effect of the increasing traffic – would the road in front of the Museum have been narrower then and if so, might she have been in the way of widening? It is difficult to tell from the photos exactly where she was?
Hi H, uncle said they had to place scaffold planks around her each fair in case the engines etc damaged her ? I don’t think she was ever moved from her original spot on the market place other than to her present location?
It is quite interesting that in Abingdon Queen Victoria was banished to The Abbey Grounds while Prince Albert resides in Albert Park .Presumably the powers that were decided to keep them apart in case they had to rename Albert Park the V and A Park! I wonder where Queen Elizabeth 2 will go eventually?
I guess they thought that since Trendell had paid for the statue it should go in “his” gardens?