Calthorpe Park, Edgbaston - plinth of the Robert Peel statue
This is Calthorpe Park in Edgbaston.
It seems a bit run down - the paths need repairing for instance.
You can access it from the Pershore Road.
I heard that the original plinth of the Robert Peel statue (now outside Tally-Ho! further down Pershore Road), so headed to Calthorpe Park to get shots of it.
I hope that the Victorian Society can get the Peel statue and plinth restored and moved to the City Centre, like they managed with the Edward VII statue.
Currently the plinth has a bit of graffiti on it, and could to with restoration.
The L's in PEEL have the feet broken off them (so it looks like PEll).
The statue was inaugurated in August 1855 (probably in Congreve Street) by the then Mayor.
Peel was Prime Minister in 1834 - 35 (under William IV) and 1841 - 1846 (under Queen Victoria).
He created the concept of a modern police force while Home Secretary. It lead to officers being known as "bobbies" in England and "peelers" in Ireland.
He was Home Secretary in the 1820s where in 1829 he established the Metropolitan Police Force for London at Scotland Yard.
It has moved around the city many times. It originally stood in Congreve Street, then in 1873 it was moved to Council House Square (now Victoria Square). In 1926 a gas lamp knocked it off its pedestal which had been hit by a lorry, and was moved to Calthorpe Park. Since 1963, it has stood here on the Pershore Road outside the Police Training Centre.
Was the day after the big thaw, so leaves from the autumn can be seen again on the grass.
The statue stood at the top of New Street for 70 years, for sometime being surrounded by cast iron railings topped with ears of wheat (to commemorate Peel’s involvement in the Repeal of the Corn Laws). It was relocated to Calthorpe Park in 1925. Then in 1963 the statue was moved to be outside the Police Training College on the Pershore Road, Edgbaston, but without its plinth, which remains in Calthorpe Park.At long last the view is crystalising that the separation of the plinth and statue was unwise and placing outside the Police college is of no relevance, since his statue was erected to commemorate the Repeal of the Corn Laws and not for his involvement in setting up the Metropolitan Police. Suitable places in the city centre are to be looked at and the Society is to assist in this.
Above text from the Victorian Society April 2009 newsletter.
Calthorpe Park, Edgbaston - plinth of the Robert Peel statue
This is Calthorpe Park in Edgbaston.
It seems a bit run down - the paths need repairing for instance.
You can access it from the Pershore Road.
I heard that the original plinth of the Robert Peel statue (now outside Tally-Ho! further down Pershore Road), so headed to Calthorpe Park to get shots of it.
I hope that the Victorian Society can get the Peel statue and plinth restored and moved to the City Centre, like they managed with the Edward VII statue.
Currently the plinth has a bit of graffiti on it, and could to with restoration.
The L's in PEEL have the feet broken off them (so it looks like PEll).
The statue was inaugurated in August 1855 (probably in Congreve Street) by the then Mayor.
Peel was Prime Minister in 1834 - 35 (under William IV) and 1841 - 1846 (under Queen Victoria).
He created the concept of a modern police force while Home Secretary. It lead to officers being known as "bobbies" in England and "peelers" in Ireland.
He was Home Secretary in the 1820s where in 1829 he established the Metropolitan Police Force for London at Scotland Yard.
It has moved around the city many times. It originally stood in Congreve Street, then in 1873 it was moved to Council House Square (now Victoria Square). In 1926 a gas lamp knocked it off its pedestal which had been hit by a lorry, and was moved to Calthorpe Park. Since 1963, it has stood here on the Pershore Road outside the Police Training Centre.
Was the day after the big thaw, so leaves from the autumn can be seen again on the grass.
The statue stood at the top of New Street for 70 years, for sometime being surrounded by cast iron railings topped with ears of wheat (to commemorate Peel’s involvement in the Repeal of the Corn Laws). It was relocated to Calthorpe Park in 1925. Then in 1963 the statue was moved to be outside the Police Training College on the Pershore Road, Edgbaston, but without its plinth, which remains in Calthorpe Park.At long last the view is crystalising that the separation of the plinth and statue was unwise and placing outside the Police college is of no relevance, since his statue was erected to commemorate the Repeal of the Corn Laws and not for his involvement in setting up the Metropolitan Police. Suitable places in the city centre are to be looked at and the Society is to assist in this.
Above text from the Victorian Society April 2009 newsletter.