Statue

Nigel Gresley statue

Erection date: 5/4/2016

Inscription

{On a plaque attached to the wall behind:}
Sir Nigel Gresley, 1876 – 1941
Chief Mechanical Engineer
1911 – 1923 Great Northern Railway,
1923 – 1941 London & North Eastern Railway.
Based in an office at this station, he designed powerful, elegant and fast locomotives including the world famous “Flying Scotsman” and “Mallard”, the fastest steam locomotive in the world. His streamlined trains departed from this station. They set new standards of comfort, speed and safety and were the first truly high speed trains.
Sculptor: Hazel Reeves FRSA
Placed by the Gresley Society Trust on 15th April 2016, the 75th anniversary of his death.
www.gresley.org

{Gresley holds in his left hand a magazine:}
The Locomotive
LNER Mallard
KC Blast Pipe

Our photo shows the statue shortly after unveiling, with only a temporary notice. By February 2017 this had been replaced with a plaque. Unveiled on the 75th anniversary of Sir Nigel’s death.

Site: Nigel Gresley statue (1 memorial)

N1, King's Cross Station, King's Cross Station

As widely reported this statue was originally designed with a duck companion, at Sir Nigel's feet: "According to a planning application, artist Hazel Reeves included the duck not only in a nod to the Mallard, but because Sir Nigel was famous for feeding ducks at his Hertfordshire home." But then came the great duck debate - the family and others did not want the duck. As you see in our photo the "no bird" lobby won the day but it it was a close-fought battle, even drawing the Guardian into the fray. This controversy kept the statue world enthralled for almost two years. We were pro-duckers; which side were you on?

The Guardian's report on the controversy has a photo of the statue - with duck.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Nigel Gresley statue

Subjects commemorated i

Sir Nigel Gresley

Locomotive engineer. Born Edinburgh into a family that arrived with William t...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Nigel Gresley statue

Created by i

Gresley Society Trust

From the Trust's website: "Our purpose is to study and celebrate the life and...

Read More

Hazel Reeves

Our picture comes from the video of the unveiling of the Gresley statue, on R...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Catherine Booth statue - Mile End

Catherine Booth statue - Mile End

E1, Mile End Road

When we first visited in 2014 William's statue was looking very pale - showing its fibreglass material. In 2017 it had been re-bronzed an...

3 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Frieze of Parnassus - Milton

Frieze of Parnassus - Milton

SW7, Kensington Road

The monument, officially titled the Prince Consort National Memorial, celebrates Victorian achievement and Prince Albert's passions and i...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Richard Cobden statue

Richard Cobden statue

NW1, Camden High Street

Sicilian marble. W. and T. Wills of 12 Euston Road were the sculptors. Still on its original site where it was unveiled to popular acclai...

2 subjects commemorated, 4 creators
Frieze of Parnassus - Pugin

Frieze of Parnassus - Pugin

SW7, Kensington Road

The monument, officially titled the Prince Consort National Memorial, celebrates Victorian achievement and Prince Albert's passions and i...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
St Anne's - Rev. Brown

St Anne's - Rev. Brown

SE11, Kennington Lane

This statue and plaque are in the porch of the main entrance.

1 subject commemorated