Bedford
Bunyan Statue
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The Bunyan statue was the idea and the gift of Francis Hastings Russell the 9th Duke of Bedford. The sculptor was the prominent Victorian sculptor Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm whose other statues include The Duke of Wellington, London and Sir Francis Drake, Plymouth. The statue is nearly nine feet high and was cast in bronze from cannon taken during the Chinese War.
The site by St. Peter's Green was chosen by Joseph Boehm for its significance as a crossroads. John Bunyan is depicted expounding the bible to an invisible congregation with a broken fetter representing his imprisonment by his left foot. There are three scenes from "The Pilgrim's Progress" on the stone plinth. Christian at the wicket gate, his fight with Apollyon, and losing his burden at the cross. The statue was unveiled by Lady Augusta Stanley, wife of the Dean of Westminster on Wednesday, 10th June, 1874.
Sources:
- FARRAR, V. Bedford 50 Years Ago: The architecture of a county town.2007
- Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Library, Bedford Central Library
Further Reading:
John Bunyan Statue, by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2009
Page last updated: 22nd January 2014