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Derby Square, once the site of the city castle, now contains Liverpool’s Victoria Monument, the principle work of perhaps the most important Liverpool-based sculptor, C. J. Allen. The monument itself is of Portland stone, and all the figures are in bronze. We might pause to note that this monument contains an unusually large number of statues - as well as the figure of Victoria, we have four basal groups of three figures each, four upper figures each with two infants, and the summit angel. Only a very few monuments, and the most sumptiously decorated buildings, exceed this total ensemble.

The standing figure of Queen Victoria, a fairly typical depiction of her in later years, is surmounted by a cupola on four clusters of stone shafts. Atop each of these supports is a group of an allegorical woman with infants – Justice, Education, Prosperity through Peace, and perhaps Nurture. On top of the cupola is a winged Victory standing on a globe and holding trumpet and olive wreath – the careful pose gives dramatic silhouettes against the sky from many angles and distances. The base of the edifice, reached by steps, contains four further, larger groups on plinths in front of the pillars. Each of these groups has three figures, and the themes are Education again, Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce. An interesting mix of types among the figures. The men in these lower groups include some ‘heroic workers’, which became such a theme of deco work after the War. Ten years before, the young C.J. Allen had been counted among the second generation of New Sculptors, and there is something of this in the naturalistic pose of some of the figures. In particular, the allegorical females, which tend to the matronly rather than the girlish, fit exactly to the turn-of-the-century period with touches of art nouveau and symbolism. By contrast, the Agriculture group is eminently Edwardian – think of the pictures of Henry Tonks or A.F.A. Sandys, for example.

Bob's rating = 6/10
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Maintains a rural pub character and has a couple of well kept ales. Didn't try the food, but the menu looked nothing out of the ordinary. Very pleasant garden and overspill area.