Statue

William III statue - SW1

Erection date: 1808

Inscription

{On either side of the plinth is written:}
GVLIELMVS.III

This statue shows King Billy's horse about to trip over a mole-hill and throw the monarch to his eventual death.
The modern information board at the entrance to the gardens states: "The statue of King William III, which now graces the centre of the Gardens, was first suggested in 1697, but it was not erected until 1808, and was executed in bronze by John Bacon."
Elsewhere we learn that it was designed by John Bacon and completed, after his death, by his son, John Bacon the Younger.

2022: Vic Keegan succinctly lays out the troubled history of this statue's arrival, over 100 years late.

Site: William III statue - SW1 (1 memorial)

SW1, St James's Square

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:
William III statue - SW1

Subjects commemorated i

King William III (of Orange)

Son of William II, Prince of Orange, and Mary Stuart (daughter of Charles I)....

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
William III statue - SW1

Created by i

John Bacon the Elder

Awarded the first gold medal for sculpture by the Royal Academy in 1769. Othe...

Read More

John Bacon the Younger

Son of John Bacon the elder. He trained as a sculptor and carried on his fath...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Imperial Hotel - statue 07 - Mary Queen of Scots

Imperial Hotel - statue 07 - Mary Queen of Scots

WC1, Russell Square

The portrait of Mary Queen of Scots used on Antonia Fraser's book could have been a model for this portrait.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Shakespeare statue - EC2

Shakespeare statue - EC2

EC2, New Inn Yard

We first captured this chap at his temporary resting place outside Southwark Cathedral.  He was moved here in 2020-1 in recognition of th...

1 subject commemorated
V&A façade - Prince Albert

V&A façade - Prince Albert

SW7, Cromwell Road

Excluding the allegories (such as Knowledge) there are 36 statues on the two public façades of the V&A Museum, on Exhibition Road and...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Johnny Haynes

Johnny Haynes

SW6, Stevenage Road, Craven Cottage

The plaque is between the windows on the ground and first floor.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Frieze of Parnassus - Shakespeare

Frieze of Parnassus - Shakespeare

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