Sculpture

Wheeler's lion

Erection date: 1973

Inscription

{Impressed on the base, at the back:}
C.W. Sc. 1973

Site: Wheeler's lion (1 memorial)

N22, Boating lake cafe, Alexandra Palace

A nearby information board informs: "A lion for London. Documents recently unearthed from the AP archives have revealed the origins of Leo the Lion. this popular bronze sculpture has been climbed on by thousands of children over the last forty years. Sir Charles Wheeler was commissioned in 1973 by the GLC to design a lion sculpture for the entrance to a proposed children's zoo in Alexandra Park. Although the children's zoo was never built, the Lion was placed at the proposed entrance and has been here ever since."

We can find no more information about the zoo that was never built.

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:
Wheeler's lion

Subjects commemorated i

Alexandra Palace

The materials used in the construction of the 1861 International Exhibition w...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Wheeler's lion

Created by i

Sir Charles Thomas Wheeler

Sculptor. Born Staffordshire. Early rheumatic fever made him unfit for active...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Dogs of Alcibiades - north

Dogs of Alcibiades - north

E9, Victoria Park, Bonner Gate

Lady Regnart donated these statues in 1912 and her husband died in 1912 so, call us reckless, but we are assuming that the donation was i...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Christ’s Hospital School - sculpture - front

Christ’s Hospital School - sculpture - front

EC1, Newgate Street

The children are marching out of the background, become older and fully 3D at the front. The younger kids, towards the end of the line, w...

4 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
The Woking Martian

The Woking Martian

GU21, Crown Square, Woking

Around the sculpture are several pavement slabs representing the bacteria, which were the downfall of the Martians.

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Jacqueline Cockburn - lost sculpture

Jacqueline Cockburn - lost sculpture

SW3, Chelsea embankment gardens

2023: Joe and Suzanne Lindsey-Clark have access to Philip Lindsey-Clark's record of works and they sent this photo together with the mess...

1 subject commemorated, 4 creators
Vitruvian man

Vitruvian man

SW1, Belgrave Square

This statue is a representation of 'The Vitruvian Man', a world-renowned drawing by Leonardo da Vinci in about 1487. Wikipedia tells all ...

1 subject commemorated, 4 creators