Jacob, the circle dray horse

Jacob, the Circle Dray Horse is a bronze sculpture of a working horse in Bermondsey, south London, a short walk from Tower Bridge. It stands at the centre of The Circle residential development on Queen Elizabeth Street and recalls the horses that once served a brewery on this stretch of the Thames.

What does the Jacob sculpture show?

Jacob is a realistic, over-life-size dray horse, the kind of animal that hauled barrels of beer to London pubs. He honours the horses of John Courage's Anchor Brewhouse, which were stabled close to where the statue now stands. The name echoes Jacob's Island, a historic part of Bermondsey.

Who made it, and when?

The sculptor is Shirley Pace. The work dates from 1987 and was commissioned by the developers of The Circle, Jacobs Island Company and Farlane Properties. According to the plaque, the horse was flown in by helicopter to launch the scheme. The plinth carries two bronze plaques naming firms involved in the development.

Is it protected?

Yes. Jacob is Grade II listed on the National Heritage List for England. The listing covers more than the horse itself: the surrounding hard landscaping, including a brick planter and service structures in the communal gardens, forms part of it.

How to visit

The statue sits in the middle of a circular residential courtyard off Queen Elizabeth Street, in the borough of Southwark. Because the setting is private housing, treat it as a short stop on a walk rather than a destination in itself, and keep noise down. Tower Bridge and Shad Thames are nearby, so it fits easily into a stroll along the south bank.

Frequently asked questions

Is Jacob a real horse? No, he is a bronze sculpture commemorating the dray horses that delivered Courage beer to pubs across London.

Who created the statue? Shirley Pace, in 1987.

Is there an entrance fee? No tickets are needed, but the statue stands within a residential estate. Access to the communal gardens may be limited, so be considerate of residents.

Why is he called Jacob? Sources link the name to Jacob's Island, the old name for this part of Bermondsey, and to the developer that commissioned the piece.