Statue of Sir Peter Fairbairn

The Statue of Sir Peter Fairbairn in Leeds is a Victorian bronze monument on Woodhouse Square, west of the city centre and close to Woodhouse Moor. It honours an engineer and mayor who built one of the city's leading machine-making firms, and it is now a Grade II listed structure on Historic England's National Heritage List.

Who was Sir Peter Fairbairn?

Peter Fairbairn (1799–1861) moved to Leeds from Kelso in Scotland. In 1826 he set up his own engineering business at the Wellington Foundry. He served as a churchwarden in the 1830s and sat on the town council from 1836 to 1842. He was mayor in 1857 and 1858, and he was knighted in 1858 at the opening of Leeds' new Town Hall.

What will you see?

The figure is life-size and shown standing. In his right hand he holds a scroll, while his left rests on a plinth bearing a cog wheel, with drapery and a mayoral chain of office laid over it. These details point to both his engineering career and his civic role. The bronze rises on a tall, square granite pedestal with a cornice and plinth. The base is signed M. Noble, London, 1868 (Art UK links the work to Matthew Noble), and an inscription records that the monument was paid for by public subscription from his fellow townsmen.

How do you get there?

The statue stands on the south side of Woodhouse Square (postcode LS3), a short distance from Woodhouse Moor. Walking from the city centre takes roughly 15 to 30 minutes depending on where you start. It is a public monument in the open street, so there are no tickets or opening hours, and you view it from the pavement around the square.

How does it fit into a walk in the area?

Woodhouse Square sits in the Hyde Park and Woodhouse district. The statue combines easily with a stroll across Woodhouse Moor, where other monuments stand, including a separately listed statue of the Duke of Wellington. Fairbairn's statue also features on self-guided sculpture walks of Leeds.

Frequently asked questions

Is the statue on Woodhouse Moor itself?

No. The Historic England entry places it at Woodhouse Square, not within the park. The two are only a short walk apart.

When was it made, and by whom?

It dates from 1868 and is the work of the London sculptor M. Noble, cast in bronze.

Is there an entry fee?

No. The monument stands in public space and can be seen at any time.

Is it a protected monument?

Yes. It has been listed at Grade II since 1976 on the National Heritage List for England.