Empty is how Frank Dobson Square stands today. But let’s talk about the Woman and Fish statue that once graced it. This sculpture was created by Frank Dobson in 1951. Dobson was a renowned British artist born in Clerkenwell. He was considered a pioneer of modern British sculpture. From 1946 to 1953, he served as professor of sculpture at the Royal College of Art.
The Woman and Fish statue was to be the centerpiece of Frank Dobson Square. The square was built in 1963, the same year Dobson passed away. It was located at the junction of Cephas Street and Cambridge Heath Road. The London County Council purchased the sculpture in 1963. It was intended to be a crowning glory for the new development.
The Woman and Fish theme wasn’t unique to this sculpture. Dobson explored it in sketches and other sculptures. A different version exists in Northamptonshire. It presents the woman in a more upright pose. This version was also created around the same time. It was bought after being exhibited at Battersea Sculpture Park in 1951. It was moved in 1978 and now resides in the grounds of Delapre Abbey.
The Woman and Fish statue in Whitechapel served as a fountain. It provided drinking water to the area’s residents. Sadly, the statue suffered damage over time. Vandalism in 1977 caused the fountain to stop working. In 1979, its head was removed. Despite restorations, the statue was deemed irreparable. It was scrapped in 2002. This was a sad end for a piece of public art meant to enhance the community.
Today, only an empty plinth remains in Frank Dobson Square. It marks the spot where the Woman and Fish once stood. The footprint of the old fountain is also visible. Calls have been made to move the replica back to the original site. The history of vandalism makes this uncertain.
A replica of the Woman and Fish does exist. In 2006, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets commissioned Antonio Lopez Reche to create a copy. This replica stands in Millwall Park on the Isle of Dogs. It’s near the Island Gardens DLR station. Reche strived to be faithful to the original design. However, his version does not function as a fountain.
The Millwall Park version is set in an enclosed garden space. The city skyline provides a backdrop. This makes the piece stand out. The replica was forged in the Bronze Age Foundry in Limehouse. This connects it to the area’s industrial history. While the setting differs from the original vision, the Woman and Fish endures. By recreating the piece, it pays tribute to the area’s history. It also fulfills the aspiration of bringing public art to places that need it most. So while the original Woman and Fish is gone, its spirit lives on in Millwall Park.