4. William III 1650-1702

Bank of England, Princes St entrance, EC2
Stone statue sculpted by Sir Henry Cheere (1735)

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I almost always think of the novel 'Agents and Patients' by Anthony Powell when I pass this spot. I was reading it on the bus earlier this year and as we passed the bank one of the characters was making a similar journey to North London. I often associate places with scenes in novels like this, and every time I re-pass them I recall the scene. It's funny, on reflection I realise I knew the character in the novel was heading North like me because he passed the statue of Sir Hugh Myddleton on Islington Green.

I've not visited this one either, but I think this is a picture here.

1. Sir John Soane 1753-1837

Bank of England, Lothbury, EC2
Stone statue sculpted by Sir William Reid Dick RA (1937)

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Well, until I get some time to go to the Bank this and the map will have to do. My intention is very much to visit the statue. In the meantime there is a picture of it here

London Statues

'London Statues: a guide to London's outdoor statues and sculpture' by Arthur Byron.

When this was published in 1981 Arthur Byron wrote 'Statues have increased in number in recent times, and many have been moved to new sites; but it is sculpture that has multiplied ten times since the First War'.

The project I've set myself is to visit as many of these as I can, take photos and make notes, then publish both here. I'd like to notice statues more - they are after all there for a purpose. I'd like to find out more about the public art of the time too, and see what's happened to the ratio Byron observed.