Equestrian statue of Edward VII, Liverpool

The Equestrian statue of Edward VII stands at Pier Head, on the Liverpool waterfront in Merseyside, England. It is a bronze monument to King Edward VII, who died in 1910, and one of the larger pieces of commemorative sculpture on the city's riverside.

Who made the monument?

The work is by the Welsh sculptor Sir William Goscombe John, one of the best-known British monument makers of the early twentieth century. It was commissioned after the king's death in 1910 as a public memorial in Liverpool, a port city that grew rich in his mother's reign and in his own.

Why did it take so long to unveil?

The statue was finished in 1916, but it was not put in place and unveiled until 1921. The First World War fell in between, which is the obvious backdrop to the delay. There was also a dispute about the site. The memorial was originally intended to stand outside the south entrance of St George's Hall, the grand neoclassical building at the heart of the city. After much wrangling, the location was changed and the monument went to Pier Head instead.

What will you see?

As the name says, the king is shown on horseback, in the traditional pose of a ruler and commander. The bronze sits on a stone pedestal, so it is read from a distance as well as up close. The setting is the real draw. Pier Head is the open plaza beside the River Mersey, where the city's most recognisable waterfront buildings stand, and the statue makes a natural stop on a walk along the river. The monument was restored in 2008, so the bronze and its base are in a cared-for state.

How to visit

The statue is outdoors in a public space and can be seen at any time of day without a ticket. Coordinates are roughly 53.4047 N, 2.9967 W. Pier Head is easy to reach on foot from the city centre and from the nearby ferry terminal, and it combines well with a visit to the other waterfront sights.

Frequently asked questions

Who sculpted the statue? Sir William Goscombe John.

When was it unveiled? In 1921, although the sculpture itself was completed in 1916.

Where was it meant to stand? Outside the south entrance of St George's Hall, before the site was changed to Pier Head.

Is there an entrance fee? No. It is an open-air monument in a public space.

Has it been restored? Yes, a restoration took place in 2008.

Is it worth a special trip? On its own it is a short stop, but as part of a Pier Head and Mersey waterfront walk it gives useful context on how Liverpool chose to honour its monarch in the years after 1910.