The original designs for the lion statues at the base of Nelson’s Column, London. Created by Thomas Milnes, they were rejected and eventually ended up in Saltaire, West Yorkshire

2 comments

1. More information on the lions can be found in the article ‘[Titus Salt and Thomas Milnes](https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/titus-salt-and-thomas-milnes/)’ by Dr William Ashworth, and ‘[*The Saltaire Lions* by Thomas Milnes](https://victorianweb.org/sculpture/milnes/2.html)’ by [Jacqueline Banerjee](https://victorianweb.org/misc/banerjee.html). Banerjee includes a quote from the *Building News* which is quite a helpful summary:

   >The history of those lions, now placed in front of the Mechanics’ Institute [[Victoria Hall](https://victorianweb.org/art/architecture/lockwood/5.html)] at Saltaire, is a little remarkable. They were first designed by the sculptor, Mr. Thomas Milnes, of London, for the base of the Nelson column in Trafalgar Square; but, after he had completed the models and made all preparations for proceeding with the work, the commission was taken out of his hands and given to [Sir Edwin Landseer](https://victorianweb.org/painting/landseer/index.html). In the meantime, the models remained in Mr. Milnes’s studio, where they attracted the notice of Sir Titus Salt. Sir Titus was desirous of having the lions at Saltaire [his [model village](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_village) near Bradford], and after a consultation with Mr. Lockwood, his architect, it was decided to place them in front of the building named, two on each side of the road. The lions are four in number, and are intended to represent Vigilance and Determination — qualities which none will deny were possessed in a high degree” by England’s famous admiral — and Peace and War. Two of them have just arrived, and one has been set up on its pedestal. The figures are each eight feet long, three feet wide, and five feet high. They have been sculptured in Pateley Bridge stone [locally quarried, from Pateley Bridge, Nidderdale], and the weight of each is nearly three tons. The stone is a beautiful rich coloured sandstone, now being introduced into the London market by Mr. Samuel Trickett, of 2, Gresham Buildings, Basinghall-street. [“Statues, Memorials, &c.”]

   Image sources: ‘[Peace](https://www.flickr.com/photos/annanielsson/53201977099/in/photolist-2p4h3ge-2p4h35g-2p4h3di-2p4fUhc-2p4fUy4-2p4h2NK-2p4fUgF-2p4h356-2p4h3eL-2p4fUwA)’, ‘[War](https://www.flickr.com/photos/annanielsson/)’, ‘[Vigilance](https://saltairevillage.info/Saltaire_WHS_Institute.html)’, ‘[Determination](https://www.flickr.com/photos/stephengg/3859580513/)’

2. They do lack a certain gravitas.