Statue of Henry Irving

A statue of Henry Irving stands near the entrance of the National Portrait Gallery in London.[2] It was unveiled on 5 December 1910, having been funded by English actors and actresses and others related to British theatre in a campaign organised by the Irving Memorial Committee. It was installed on land donated by the City of Westminster. The Irving Society hosts a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue on 6 February each year, commemorating the actor's birth.[3] The bronze statue, on a Portland stone pedestal, is by the sculptor Thomas Brock and is listed at Grade II.[1]

Statue of Henry Irving
The sculpture in 2023
ArtistThomas Brock
Year1910
SubjectHenry Irving
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameStatue of Sir Henry Irving
Designated24 February 1958
Reference no.1357292[1]
Coordinates51°30′35″N 0°07′42″W

The street between the statue and the National Portrait Gallery, formerly Green Street, was renamed Irving Street in the actor's honour in 1939, commemorating the centenary the previous year of Irving's birth in 1838. In 1951 formal gardens were laid out around the statue, with railings bearing the monogram HI, for the Festival of Britain; these were unveiled by Laurence Olivier.[2]

References

  1. Historic England. "Statue of Sir Henry Irving (1357292)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. Cheshire, D. F. "The Irving Memorial". The Irving Society. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. "Statue: Henry Irving". London Remembers. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
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