What is a naked young man doing precariously balanced on a granite column in Chelsea? That’s The Boy David, a fiberglass sculpture by Edward Bainbridge Copnall. It’s a replacement for a bronze statue by Francis Derwent Wood that was stolen in 1969. Both statues were modeled after Wood’s Machine Gun Corps Memorial, a war memorial which stands at Hyde Park Corner. The Boy David in Chelsea was given as a gift to the Borough of Chelsea in 1963. You’ll find him on Chelsea Embankment. This statue isn’t just a pretty face. It stands as a memorial to the members of the Machine Gun Corps who served in World War One, especially those who didn’t come home.
Chelsea Physic Garden
Remembered for more than just its beauty, Chelsea Physic Garden is a testament to the enduring bond between humanity and