Charles William Vane-Stewart - Durham, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 54° 46.616 W 001° 34.534
30U E 591620 N 6070899
This statue in the Marketplace in the centre of Durham is of Charles William Vane-Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry and both the horse and the rider are double life size.
Waymark Code: WM1969C
Location: North East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 12/05/2023
Views: 1
Because of its size the statue forms a major focal point to the Market Place.
Although he was born in Dublin and had Irish connections he settled in County Durham after marrying his second wife, Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest, daughter and heiress of Sir Henry Vane-Tempest. He became Lord Lieutenant of Durham in 1842.
The statue was commissioned after his death by his wife and it was she who specified that the statue should be double life size, and sited in the City of Durham.
As well as being a politician and a mine owner Vane-Stewart also had a successful military career including commanding troops during the Napoleonic Wars and served under the Duke of wellington.
The statue shows him in his full military uniform seated on a charger of large and heavy proportions.
The statue was made by Signor Monti in 1858 using a a recently invented technique that allowed of depositing liquid metal onto a plaster model by electrolysis. By 1951 however the statue was in a state of disrepair and had to be restored.
There are two plaques on the statues plinth.
CHARLES WILLIAM VANE STEWART
3RD MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY
1ST EARL VANE AND BARON STEWART
OF STEWARTS COURT K.C.G.C.B.
LORD LIEUTENANT COUNTY OF DURHAM
AND FOUNDER OF SEAHAM HARBOUR
GENERAL IN THE ARMY
BORN MAY 8TH 1778 DIED MARCH 6TH 1854
THIS PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED ON
THE 9TH DAY OF APRIL 1952 BY THE
EIGHTH MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRY
TO COMMEMORATE THE RESTORATION
OF THE STATUE FROM FUNDS RAISED
BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION AND BY
THE CITY COUNCIL
This
Wikipedia page gives details of Charles William Vane-Stewart's life.