“You are old, Father Thames,” a young man once said in a poem. I ask you now. Are you ready to hear the tale of the Old Man Thames Statue? Here at this very spot in London.
The Old Man Thames Statue is more than cement and stone. It is a symbol of London’s river. It’s a piece of history salvaged from fire and moved with care.
Originally crafted by Rafaelle Monti in 1854. The statue was part of the “Rivers and Oceans” series at the Crystal Palace. Unusually for the time, it was made of Portland cement. In 1936, a fire engulfed the Crystal Palace. But Old Father Thames was rescued.
In 1958, the Thames Conservancy installed it at Thames Head. But vandalism led to another move in 1974. The Old Man Thames Statue found its home at St John’s Lock. Here, a lock keeper could keep watch over the old boy.
Ron May, a man who worked on the Thames for thirty-two years. Ron’s father and grandfather also worked on the river. Ron’s gang moved the huge figure of Old Father Thames. They moved him from Trewsbury Mead to Lechlade. One of their lorries had previously collected it from the Crystal Palace Exhibition. It had taken it to Trewsbury Mead years before.
Alexander Pope celebrated the river in his verses. He wrote of Old Father Thames advancing his reverend head. Tresses dropping with dews. Shining horns diffusing a golden gleam. The poem speaks of prosperity for the river.
In 1780, Bacon sculpted another statue of Father Thames. This one was below the statue of George III at Somerset Place. Samuel Ireland was not impressed. He thought the river god was misplaced.
Old Father Thames is often seen as a symbol of commerce. W Clark Russell wrote that Father Thames might be termed a goddess under the title of Commerce. The river’s ebb and flow seem obedient to its laws. Its shadow is in the air and upon the face of the waters.
Even in verse, Old Father Thames has been immortalized. A poem inspired by Lewis Carroll speaks of his age and lounging habits. It jests about his cement body. It questions his reason for being moved due to vandalism.
So, here he reclines. Old Father Thames. A testament to resilience. A reminder of London’s bond with its river. He has seen fire, vandalism, and many moves. Yet, he remains. A timeless figure watching over the Thames. His presence enriches our understanding of this great river. Take a moment to appreciate the Old Man Thames Statue.