MarkKelleher

By MarkKelleher

Albert Memorial from Hyde Park


Designed by George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic Revival or Victorian Gothic style.

It was opened by Victoria in July 1872, and funded by public subscription at a cost of £120,000 (equivalent of £10m today).

The final Albert statue was only put in place three years after the monument was opened as it took that long to sculpt and cast the bronze, and apply the gilt. An identical model of Albert was in place before that.

A major refurbishment was carried out in the late 1990s, and Albert was returned to his golden finish after 80 years of being painted black. The statues had been painted to stop it being an easy target for Zeppelin bombing raids during WWI.

The Gothic design is acknowledged as being inspired by the Scaligeri family tombs at the Santa Maria Antica church in Verona, Italy.

Underneath the monument, there's a huge cellar.

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