The Good Old Duke

The statue is of John Henry Manners, the 5th Duke of Rutland, and was unveiled in 1852 to celebrate his 50th anniversary as Lord Lieutenant of the county. It was the first public statue ever to be erected in Leicester. The Duke known as the ‘Good old Duke’, was well respected in Leicester, giving money to deserving local charities and supporting the Leicester Royal Infirmary in its early days. He was also a trustee of the British Museum.

 

The seat of the Dukes of Rutland is Belvoir Castle, in a spectacular hilltop position overlooking the Vale of Belvoir in Northeast Leicestershire, near Grantham. There has been a castle here since the Norman Conquest, but the present one was built by James Wyatt in 1816. It was this Duke who employed Wyatt to rebuild Belvoir Castle.

Over the years, many have remarked on the strange expression on the Duke's face. "The Builder", a trade newspaper, remarked at the time that "His Grace is made to appear positively intoxicated".

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The Duke of Rutland Statue, a magnificent sculpture created by Edward Davis, was proudly exhibited at the renowned 1851 Great Exhibition in London's Crystal Palace, organised by Prince Albert, the beloved husband of Queen Victoria, as a grand celebration of England's esteemed position as a leading industrial nation.

During the September 1851 quarterly meeting of the Town Council, discussions were held to determine the ideal location for the upcoming statue. In a letter dated 8 September 1851, the sculptor had proposed that the statue be placed in the bustling Marketplace. However, as discussed at the meeting, it was determined that the Marketplace would not be an ideal location due to the interference it would cause with the fruit and vegetable market stalls. After careful deliberation and discussions in October of 1851, the council came to the decision that the statue would be erected on the conduit column.

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On the 12th of April in 1852, a meeting was held among the Mayor, Town Clerk, and other council members to determine the ultimate location for the statue which was decided to be directly across from Victoria Parade. They implemented measures by considering space and angles. The town councillor, Mr. Moxon, ceremoniously commenced the construction by breaking ground with a pick, accompanied by his fellow council members. 

On Wednesday, the 28th of April 1852, the town of Leicester was filled with joy and excitement as a grand celebration took place.

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In the early hours of the morning, skilled masons and carpenters were diligently working to construct a sturdy barrier around the towering statue. The structure, which was an impressive 10ft square and towering at a height of 14 ft, was adorned with vibrant banners and lush evergreens that reached up to 6ft higher.

A grand and impressive procession, consisting of esteemed individuals such as the Duke of Rutland’s band, the Mayor, multiple councillors, Trustees, and the sculptor Edward Davis, departed from the Assembly rooms to commence the unveiling of the statue. The procession was led by two Masons who carried the model of the magnificent statue and its pedestal.

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As the VIP procession made its way down Horsefair Street, it was joined by a group of Freemasons, and together they continued down Gallowtree Gate before reaching their final destination at Victoria Parade.

It was a day designated as a holiday, resulting in the closure of various establishments such as shops, factories, warehouses, and schools, all of which closed at one o'clock in the afternoon.

Flags, banners all streamed from windows and rooftops with special trains  coming from Derby, Notts and  Peterborough.

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By the year 1868, the statue that stood in the bustling area of Cheapside was deemed to be obstructing the ever-growing traffic flow.

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In June 1872, the City Committee held a meeting to discuss and plan the proposed improvement of the Rutland Statue. After careful consideration, it was determined that the current position and height of the statue were unfavourable, leading to the decision to remove it from its current location on the conduit. Additionally, it was decided to increase the height of the pedestal by several feet and relocate it to a more central location, specifically midway between the corn exchange and the line of shops on the eastern side of the bustling marketplace. A suggestion was put forth to cover the entire bronze statue with a layer of gild, which would effectively remove the sombre and heavy appearance that has caused numerous complaints. It was gilded in extra thick gold leaf.

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During the discussion, Councillor Crossley brought up a valid concern regarding the potential issue of the water supply from the conduit not being removed along with the statue. After expressing his concern, he was reassured that the water tap would be promptly replaced in a more convenient and accessible location. In September of 1872, the statue was relocated to the Corn Exchange at a cost of £120.

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Despite efforts to prevent disruption, a 9-year-old named Benjamin Mattock was charged in 1874 for throwing stones at the statue. However, he was discharged due to his young age.

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In1929 a decision was made to demolish the historic Biddles Tripe House, located at the bottom of Redcross Street, to extend the beautiful castle gardens. As part of this renovation, the renowned "Rutland Statue" would also be relocated to a new home in what was to be called "Everards Place," named after the generous donors, Mr. T.W Everard and Mr. W Lindsay Everard MP, who presented the land to the city.

As of July 1831, the statue could be found in the charming and picturesque Everard Place Gardens. (St Nics Circle). In the year 1948, a group of students had taken it upon themselves to cover the in whitewash, just one day before the annual Rag Day celebration.

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In May 1967, the statue was carefully removed and placed into storage due to the construction work happening on the new Southgate’s underpass. According to the planning officer at the time, Konrad Smigielski, it was stated that the structure would be re-erected, however, the exact location of where it would be placed was unknown but most likely to be its original position.

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After four long years, in August  1971, Councillor Malcolm Gardiner made the decision to relocate the statue back to its the bustling Marketplace piazza.

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While some may have welcomed this decision, it certainly did not receive a positive response from everyone. According to Alderman Marston, during the city council's decision to approve the creation of a small square outside the corn exchange and development of the marketplace, it was agreed that the space would remain open and accessible to the public.

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And now...... After being moved multiple times, the first-ever statue to be erected in Leicester will once again be relocated as part of the renovation of the city's market. The city council has announced their plans (subject to planning permission) to return the statue to its original position in Cheapside, where it was first placed in 1952.