Queen Victoria statue: A history

Queen Victoria statue:
a history

This history of the decision to erect a statue as a belated celebration of the Queen's golden jubilee, written by Ian Ronayne, was first published in the St Helier magazine Town Crier

In 1890 Jersey wrestled with a troubling dilemma: how best to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

It took a Constable of St Helier to break the deadlock, and led to a statue widely agreed at the time to be fit for a queen.

'In the days to come, when the 19th century shall be remembered and known merely as a matter of history; when the people of the present shall have passed away; and the thoughts and deeds of our own time shall have given place to progress and advancement, the reign of good Queen Victoria will be pointed to with admiration as one of the most glorious epochs in the annals of Great Britain.'

So trumpeted the Jersey Express newspaper in September 1890, echoing sentiments shared by many Islanders at that time. Yet how best to demonstrate love and loyalty towards the monarch, who three years earlier had reached her Golden Jubilee, an occasion marked locally by solemn declarations and joyous celebrations.

The challenge: What was best?

Everyone agreed a need for something enduring to mark the august milestone – the challenge since was deciding what was best. The time had come for an intervention. Constable Baudains of St Helier was widely considered the right man to break the impasse.

Philippe Baudains, who had become constable in 1881, enjoyed distinguished careers in both law and politics, alongside influential interests in Freemasonry, the Island’s heritage and Militia service. He had presided over the first meeting called to decide on the best form of tribute to Her Majesty, held in the Town Hall Assembly Room in March 1887, the Golden Jubilee year.

It, and subsequent discourse, had failed to achieve consensus. Various ideas and schemes were advanced. The Lieut-Governor favoured an imperial institute. Former States Deputy Charles Le Cornu wanted a museum. There was talk of a marble bust. Least likely seemed a proposal put forward by John du Jardin, who would later become a Jurat, which was to erect a statue of Queen Victoria in the public gardens on the site of the old weighbridge.

When it proved impossible to reach consensus on the matter, the subject gradually slipped away from public awareness.

Committee formed

Until the redoubtable Constable Baudains decided that something must be done and formed a special committee to progress the matter. Among its members was the still determined Mr Du Jardin, who had taken every opportunity since the original Town Hall meeting to press his statue proposal. Gradually others, including the constable, warmed to this idea.

Doubters and challenges remained to be overcome. How would such a grandiose scheme be paid for – the statue alone would cost nearly £400? Was the Weighbridge the right location for it – why not the Parade Gardens or Royal Square (perhaps replacing ‘German George’ on his pedestal)?

In the end, the steady resolve of Constable Baudains held sway. Public subscription raised the necessary money, and the States agreed after some delay and resistance to allow the statue’s erection at the Weighbridge.

Finally, the Island had solid agreement on plans to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. There only remained the matter of arranging the work, with a statue fit for a queen French sculptor Georges Wallet was awarded the commission for the statue, which was seven feet tall and cast in bronze by the Thiébaut Brothers foundry in Paris. Jersey architect Adolphus Curry designed the 12-foot-high granite pedestal engraved with the imperial crown, the Queen’s monogram and her Golden Jubilee dates: 1837–1887.

A final touch was the inscription in French pointedly reminding the monument had been: ‘erected by the people’.

The grand unveiling came on 3 September 1890, which was the anniversary of Queen Victoria’s first visit to Jersey in 1846. From early morning people began arriving in St Helier, eager to share in the heady atmosphere and enjoy the spectacle of shops festooned with bunting and flags - red, white and blue of course.

Bright costumes

Some chose to dress in bright costumes, the splashes of colour contrasting with serried ranks of khaki as soldiers from across the Island trooped into town to play their part in the ceremony.

What would the weather do? There were more than a few anxious glances up at the heavens. Despite a widely held belief that meteorological conditions always favoured the Queen, ominous grey clouds pressed down on St Helier during early morning. There was widespread relief when these cleared as events got underway, allowing the sun to shine through.

Full attention could turn to the unveiling ceremony. This started in the States Chamber at 11.15 with Members led by Bailiff Sir George Bertram formally agreeing to accept the new monument from the public.

The Assembly then walked in procession to the Weighbridge to take their places alongside other invited guests in the circular gardens surrounding the elaborately covered statue.

As the band finished playing introductory music, Constable Baudains stepped forward to address the audience, thanking on behalf of the committee all those responsible for getting to this point.

Then came the Bailiff, who declared the monument a fitting tribute in addition to those already dedicated to Her Majesty – Victoria College and Victoria Pier. Finally, he invited the Lieut-Governor to unveil the statue.

No royalty

It had been hoped that a member of the Royal family would visit for the occasion, but with no one forthcoming the duty fell to the Queen’s representative in the Island. His Excellency General Charles Ewart, who was warmly welcomed by the crowd, stepped forward to grasp the rope attached to the covering before loudly announcing: ‘I now unveil this statue of the Queen, defender of the faith and Empress of India,’.

With a tug, the covering fell to reveal the imposing bronze figure on its impressive granite pedestal. It was the sign for loud celebrations to begin. The assembled troops presented arms, guns rang out from Fort Regent and Elizabeth Castle, the band struck up God Save the Queen and the crowd gave three roaring cheers for Her Majesty.

Finally, and fully, Jersey had commemorated the Golden Jubilee and endowed a fitting and lasting monument to good Queen Victoria – long to reign over us.

Queen Victoria reigned over her people until her death in January 1901. Her statue reigned over Islanders at the Weighbridge until January 1970, when it was moved to accommodate an expanding bus station and encroaching road layout.

The bronze monarch’s new location was only a short distance away - to adorn the middle of a busy car park opposite the Pomme d’Or Hotel entrance. Six years later, it was on the move again, this time to a more stately but less central spot next to the Grand Hotel, from where she could gaze regally over nearby public toilets towards Elizabeth Castle.

Here, in a public space since named ‘Victoria Park’ in an effort to soften the indignity of her demotion from centre to periphery, the impassive bronze Queen remains. A distant reminder of the now largely forgotten but arguably still ‘one of the most glorious epochs in the annals of Great Britain’, and Jersey.