The Quizzical Trot of Queen Victoria: From the Throne of Leeds Town Hall to the

On the 27th of November 1905, the Memorial for Queen Victoria, masterly crafted by George Francis, alias George Frampton, and Leonard Stokes, was unveiled, towering grandly outside Leeds Town Hall. And yet, its ultimate destination would not be revealed until 1937, when it found itself within the confines of Woodhouse Moor. The magnificent statue showcases Queen Victoria seated upon her throne, accompanied by a sceptre, an orb, the royal arms, and the Leeds coat of arms.

The memorial boasts a frieze inscribed with 'INDIA', 'AUSTRALIA', 'CANADA' and 'AFRICA', and flanked by sculptures of 'Peace' and 'Industry', enhancing its awe-inspiring splendour. In recent times, amidst the George Floyd protests, the statue became embroiled in a disquieting transformation, as the words 'racist', 'colonizer', 'justice', 'BLM' and 'slave owner' adorned its surface. This stirred much debate as to its original intent.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons