Controversial history of the King's Statue in Weymouth

The 200-year-old tribute to George III has been extensively restored and is an iconic part of the town's seafront. But the commemorative monument has not always been so cherished by the town.

Although it is now Grade I listed, various proposals have been propounded over the years to relocate or even dispose of it altogether.

An old Echo cutting dated Friday, June 9, 1944 is headlined '"Respect" for King's Statue' and gives the background to the decision of the Weymouth Town Council both to defer until after the war the question of the removal of the monument and whether to paint the statue green!

In the 1944 debate preceding Weymouth Town Council's decision, protest came from Councillor A C Billett, who objected to spending even a penny on 'this obsolete monstrosity'. Indeed, he said that he did not think George III would turn one hair if the statue were removed - it had outlived its usefulness, was an eyesore and caused congestion in the locality.

The King's Statue

He suggested a good idea would be to remove it to the hills, together with the White Horse on the outskirts of the town. Alderman A E Dowell, meanwhile, protested against the colour and suggested that if the statue were painted the same colour as the stonework it would make it more dignified.

The deputy-mayor, Councillor B Biles, spoke in favour of the retention of the statue, saying that Weymouth had a lot to thank George III for. Furthermore, he felt the people of the town would be sorry to see the monument moved. It was doing a duty at the moment by dividing the traffic and he looked |forward to the day when it would be a pretty spot, with a small flower garden around it.

Councillor J T Goddard, the mayor, explained that a good deal of inquiry would have to be gone into before its removal could even be considered and that the time was not opportune to do so. He also recalled that recently he had seen children riding on the lion and suggested that if the statue were painted it would receive more respect. To sum up, Councillor J L James stated his belief that the statue would be there long after the war, and he looked forward to the time when the buses would be moved elsewhere, and then the statue would take its rightful place.

What Coun James referred to was a large bus shelter, sited directly in front of the plinth in the 1930s, from which area buses set off for their destinations. When increasing traffic clogged up the whole road system at the statue, the present traffic island was built and gardens laid out in 1955.

The monument was first painted in heraldic colours in 1949. Another development is that the great open space in front of the statue, where crowds once congregated to celebrate occasions, has been whittled down.

Duke of Gloucester visiting the King's Statue in 2008

The King's Statue caused quarrels since the day it was approved in 1802. The complex political situation in Weymouth at the time meant that there was some secrecy regarding the commissioning of the statue.

James Herbert Browne, who gained approval for the life-size statue to be built, wanted to show loyalty to the King without the involvement or knowledge of William Pulteney, a friend of the king and virtual controller of the borough's finances.

The foundation stone was laid on October 10, 1809 in the presence of two of King George III's children, Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge and Princess Mary. By then Pulteney had died and the King's summer visits to Weymouth had ceased.

The statue was unveiled on October 25, 1810. The lettering on its plinth, designed by James Hamilton, celebrates the 50th year of the reign of the King who brought kudos and prosperity to Weymouth by coming here to bathe in the seawater.

George, having been advised that sea bathing would help him convalesce from his 'nervous disorder', spent a total of 14 holidays between 1789 and 1805 at his younger brother's house in Weymouth, Gloucester Lodge, with his royal retinue.

In his wake, fashionable society naturally followed. The contentious Weymouth landmark was thus erected to honour the man who helped put Weymouth on the map.