Roar! The South Bank Lion stands before you. He’s not just any lion. He’s a survivor. A symbol. A piece of London’s history carved in Coade stone.
This magnificent creature once proudly surveyed the Thames from atop the Lion Brewery. Imagine the scene in 1837. The year Queen Victoria ascended the throne. The year William Frederick Woodington finished sculpting this majestic beast. He is 13 feet long and 12 feet high. He weighs 13 tonnes. A true king of the riverside.
The Lion Brewery thrived for decades. But in 1924 it closed. In 1949 it was demolished. To make way for the Festival of Britain. The lion was saved though. Thousands petitioned to save him. King George VI himself intervened. He was a beacon of hope during World War II. People said that so long as the lion stood London would stand.
Initially painted red he became a symbol of British Rail for a time. In 1966 he moved to his current home on a large granite plinth beside County Hall. His red paint was removed. He now stands proudly overlooking Westminster Bridge. He is a Grade II* listed structure. A testament to the enduring spirit of London.
The details of his modelling are still remarkably clear. The Coade stone is surprisingly resistant to weathering. Even decades of London’s infamous pea soup fog couldn’t dull his roar. A true survivor. The lion is still here.
So next time you cross Westminster Bridge pause a moment. Gaze upon the South Bank Lion. Reflect on his incredible journey. From brewery to bridge. From red painted mascot to weathered monument. He’s a piece of London’s living history. He reminds us of hope. Perseverance. And the enduring power of a great story.