Interestingly, this very spot beneath the hooves of the equestrian statue of Charles I is considered the heart of London. From here all distances to the city are measured. This bronze monument isn’t just a statue. It’s a historical marker. It’s also a testament to resilience and royal intrigue.
The statue of Charles I you see before you is the oldest bronze statue in London. It was crafted in 1633 by French sculptor Hubert Le Sueur. Commissioned initially for the garden of Richard Weston. Weston was Charles’s Lord High Treasurer. His country house was in Roehampton, Surrey.
But its journey wasn’t so straightforward. Charles I faced turbulent times. He dissolved Parliament in 1629. This move set the stage for the English Civil War. The war concluded with Charles’s execution in 1649. He was beheaded at Banqueting House. Look down Whitehall. The statue faces the site of his execution.
Following the King’s execution, Parliament ordered the statue’s destruction. A metalsmith named John Rivett was tasked with melting it down. But Rivett a shrewd man, saw an opportunity. He hid the statue. He then produced broken brass pieces. Rivett claimed he followed orders. He even sold brass-handled cutlery. He said it was made from the statue’s remains. Both Royalists and Parliamentarians bought them.
After the Restoration, Charles II, son of the executed king, expressed sadness over the statue’s loss. Rivett then revealed his deception. He presented the statue unharmed. A complaint was lodged with the House of Lords. The statue was purchased by the King. In 1675, it was erected here at Charing Cross.
The pedestal beneath the statue of Charles I is made of Portland stone. Joshua Marshall, mason to Charles II, completed it. The pedestal features a carved coat of arms.
Even this statue has faced its share of drama. In 1844, Queen Victoria visited to open the Royal Exchange. During the visit, the statue’s sword and badge of the Order of the Garter were stolen.
During the Second World War, the Ministry of Works removed the statue for protection. It was stored at Mentmore Park in Leighton Buzzard. Before returning it to Whitehall. The ministry repaired the statue. They added a replacement sword and badge. A bronze tablet was added to the plinth’s base. This explained the additions.
In 1977, the plinth was cleaned for the first time in three centuries. The Department of the Environment and the Victoria and Albert Museum oversaw the work.
The statue shows Charles I on horseback. He wears a demi-suit of armor. A scarf is tied in a bow on his right shoulder. He holds a baton in his right hand. The horse’s left forefoot bears the inscription “1633”.
So, as you stand here. Take a moment to appreciate the statue of Charles I. It is more than just a bronze figure. It’s a symbol of London itself. It represents history, intrigue, and the enduring spirit of this great city.