By Ade Blackburn
The city of Liverpool has a greater number of public sculptures than any other location in the United Kingdom, aside from Westminster. Here’s a selection of some of the fascinating monuments on display in the city.
1. Bessie Braddock Sculpture
Bessie Braddock was the Labour Party MP for Liverpool Exchange from 1945-70. She was an outspoken campaigner for better health, housing and education for the poor.
She rejected a ministerial post because, like her husband, Council Leader Jack Braddock, she preferred to remain locally-focussed and be a fierce advocate for her home city.
She was affectionately known as ‘Battling Bessie’ and was admired both locally and nationally.
On display: Lime Street Station
2. All Together Now – Christmas Truce 1914
3. William Mackenzie Tomb
The tomb of engineer William MacKenzie, situated in the graveyard of the former St Andrew’s Church in Rodney Street, Liverpool, is often talked about. It is said that he is not buried there, but instead sat above ground and also that his ghost roams the locality.
Legend has it that he was not buried but sat upright in the tomb. The story goes that McKenzie was supposedly entombed seated at a table with a winning hand of cards in his bony fingers.
Just like something out of a novel, William Mackenzie wasn’t buried in any old tomb. Instead, his burial site boasts a 4.57-metre pyramid-shaped tombstone, embellished with a turquoise placard and inscription. For history, mystery, and architecture fans headed to Liverpool, consider adding Mackenzie’s tomb to your itinerary.
On display: St Andrew’s Church Grounds
4. Bill Shankly Sculpture
Sculptor Tom Murphy’s most popular work and an integral part of the Liverpool Tourist trail. Since its unveiling in 1997, thousands of football fans across the world have been pictured with this Bill Shankly Sculpture which stands at the entrance to Anfield.
Commissioned by Calsberg Internation for Liverpool Football Club, it is cast in bronze, stands 14 feet high off the ground on a plinth of Scottish granite – in deference to Shankly’s Scottish Mining background.
On display: Entrance to Anfield Football Stadium
5. Billy Fury Sculpture
Billy Fury was born Ronald Wycherley in Haliburton Street in The Dingle, Liverpool on 17 April 1940. He first found fame in the early 1960s and is remembered as one of the most famous stars in the history of British rock and roll. His total record sales were on a par with acts such as Elvis, The Beatles and Cliff Richard.
His statue, made by Liverpool sculptor Tom Murphy in 2003, was commissioned by ‘The Sound of Fury’ fan club following six years of fundraising and donations from fans, both members and non members, from home and abroad.
The sculpture was very kindly donated to National Museums Liverpool by ‘The Sound of Fury’ as a lasting tribute to Billy, one of Liverpool’s greatest stars.
On display: Outside of Piermaster’s House, Albert Dock