A new statue of Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled today in Newcastle-under-Lyme to celebrate the town’s 850th anniversary -and unlike many other recent royal monuments, it actually bears a likeness to its subject.
The statue, crafted from bronze and weighing one ton, stands at one-and-a-quarter times life size and is positioned just inches above ground level in the town’s Queens Gardens.
Commissioned by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, the statue’s design is inspired by photographs of Her Majesty taken during her visit to the town in 1973, which marked the 800th anniversary.
Funding for the project was provided by two major donors: JCB, the Staffordshire digger manufacturer, and Capital&Centric, the developers leading a multi-million-pound regeneration of Newcastle’s town center, with each organisation covering half the cost.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: ‘This wonderful statue of the late Queen Elizabeth is unique to Newcastle-under-Lyme and inextricably linked to our history and our celebrations of the town’s 850th anniversary.
‘Not only does it acknowledge our past links with the Monarchy, and the contemporary celebration of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s heritage, but it also looks to the future.
‘I like to think that by our 900th anniversary in 2073 this statue will be a notable and much-loved part of the town’s landscape and the young children here today will be telling their grandchildren how they were present for its unveiling.’
JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford added that’ he late Queen visited Staffordshire many times during her reign and it’s wonderful to honour her in this way in our county.’
Tim Heatley, co-founder of Capital&Centric, added, ‘Newcastle is undergoing a renaissance with our plans to reboot three town center sites.
‘This statue will provide another reason for people to visit and is a fitting way to commemorate the Queen’s visit.’
Local sculptor Andy Edwards, known for his internationally acclaimed works, created the statue to reflect the Queen’s appearance during her 1973 visit, complete with her hat, clothes, and handbag.’
The loss of Queen Elizabeth is still deeply felt across the country,’ he said.
‘This artwork was commissioned and designed to express the respect and affection in which she was held.’
Unlike the statue of Queen Victoria—Queen Elizabeth II’s great-great-grandmother, which was unveiled in 1903—the new statue is designed to be approachable and interactive, reflecting the late monarch’s public persona.
Council leader Simon Tagg said: ‘It’s a great day for Newcastle. The turnout shows how much the Queen meant to the people here.
‘The two statues of our longest-serving monarchs in Queens Gardens will hopefully attract tourists to Newcastle.’
Mr. Edwards is also known for creating the iconic Beatles statue in Liverpool and the sculpture of Stoke City legend Sir Stanley Matthews at the bet365 Stadium.
For the statue of Queen Elizabeth, he drew inspiration from a photograph taken during her visit to Newcastle in 1973.