Monarchs - Queen Victoria – Harrogate, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 59.537 W 001° 32.290
30U E 595837 N 5983652
The statue was erected in Station Square to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. Alderman Richard Ellis, Harrogates Mayor at the time donated the land and the statue to the town of Harrogate, his home town.
Waymark Code: WMG7DP
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/24/2013
Views: 4
Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria is associated with Britain's great age of industrial expansion, economic progress and, especially, empire. She was awarded the title of The Empress of India in 1877. At her death, it was said, Britain had a worldwide empire on which the sun never set.
She had 9 children during her marriage to Prince Albert. Their nine children and 26 of their 34 grandchildren who survived childhood married into royal and noble families across the continent, tying them together and earning her the nickname "the grandmother of Europe".
Victoria had been a much loved figure before and after she became queen, but after he died in 1861 aged only 42, she fell into a state of depression and largely withdrew from public life. However after 20 years or so, she slowly re-entered public life and after her jubilees was fully restored to public favour.
The Memorial
The statue stands on a high plinth and rising above the statute is a tall spire that provides cover for it. There is a lion holding a shield at each corner of the monument. Lions appear on her coat of arms to represent England and Scotland.
The statue shows here wearing ceremonial robes with a sash over her shoulder. She also has a Star of India medal on her left breast.
There are a number of inscriptions on the plinth.
The front
QUEEN
VICTORIA
The rear
JUBILEE
MEMORIAL
1887
Side inscription
ERECTED BY
RICHARD ELLIS
FOR THE
WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE
MAYOR
OF THIS BOROUGH
1885.6.7
AND PRESENTED BY HIM
TO HIS
NATIVE TOWN
Side Inscription
THE
FOUNDATION STONE
WAS LAID BY
THE MAYORESS
MRS ELLIS
APRIL 14TH 1887