Statue of the Earl Kitchener, London

Coordinates: 51°30′14″N 0°07′41″W / 51.5039°N 0.1280°W / 51.5039; -0.1280
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Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
The statue in 2015
Map
ArtistJohn Tweed
Year1926
TypeBronze statue
LocationHorse Guards Parade, London, SW1
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°30′14″N 0°07′41″W / 51.5039°N 0.1280°W / 51.5039; -0.1280

The statue of the Earl Kitchener is an outdoor bronze statue by John Tweed depicting Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, installed in 1926 and located on the south side of Horse Guards Parade in London, United Kingdom.[1] The sculpture stands on a Portland stone plinth. It became a Grade II listed building in 1970.

Calls for a national memorial to Kitchener began immediately after his death, but there were considerable delays while a suitable site was located, with suggestions including

Lloyd George
on grounds of cost.

Tweed's larger than life size bronze statue was cast by A. B. Burton at his Thames Ditton Foundry.[2] It portrays Kitchener in his army uniform, with bare head, standing with left foot advanced, and hands clasped. The statue contrasts with the equestrian statues of Field Marshal Wolseley and Field Marshal Roberts that had already been installed on the east side of Horse Guards Parade in 1920 and 1924 respectively.

The statue is mounted on a Portland stone base and platform, facing north across Horse Guards Parade. The plinth contains the following inscription: KITCHENER/ 1850–1916/ ERECTED BY PARLIAMENT.[3] Behind the statue is a stone screen, against the north face of the wall of the Garden of 10 and 11 Downing Street.

The memorial was unveiled on 9 June 1926 by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII). It was favourably compared with a similar standing statue of General Gordon, which stood in Trafalgar Square from 1888 to 1943, and was reinstalled at Victoria Embankment Gardens in 1953.

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