1879 statue of Prince Albert in front of the Dock Offices, Grimsby December 2022.

A photo taken on 20th December 2022.

The statue dates to 1879 and is now a Grade II Listed Statue. It was modelled by William Theed the younger of London who also sculpted the Africa Group part of the Albert Memorial in Kensigton Gardens. The statue was cast by Christoph Lenz of Nurembery, Germany. This company still exists today.

The bronze figure of Albert stands on a large, polished granite plinth. There are inscriptions on all sides.

Front: “The new dock connecting the Royal Dock with the Old Dock was opened by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales on the 22nd July 1879”. Left: “Albert, Prince Consort, Born 26th August, 1819 Died 14th December 1861. He laid the foundation stone of the Royal Dock, Great Grimsby on the 18th April 1849, and the Dock was opened on the 27th May 1852”. Right: “To commemorate the inauguration and completion of these great works this memorial has been erected by Sir Edward William Watkin, MP, Chairman of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company 1879”. Rear: An inscribed excerpt from Prince Albert’s speech.

The statue originally stood in the former Albert Gardens which were by the Customs House, opposite the former Royal Hotel. At some point in the middle of last century, the statue was moved about 90m to its present position facing to front of the Dock Offices.

This statue should be recognised as being of national importance. Hopefully, it will eventually be moved to the Town Centre where it would be seen by many more local people and visitors to the town. A real boost to cultural heritage tourism.

Note: As interest in the life and significant achievements of Sir Edward William Watkin, 1st Baronet (1819–1901) increases, surely interest in this statue will increase.