Statue Of Oliver Cromwell, Westminster

A statue of Oliver Cromwell stands outside the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in Westminster, London. It is a sculpture of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. The statue was designed by Hamo Thornycroft and erected in 1899. It has divided opinion, both before its erection and since, due to Cromwell's opposition to the British monarchy and his role in the conquest of Ireland. Cromwell stands accused by some of war crimes, religious persecution and ethnic cleansing on a dramatic scale against Catholics in Ireland. The statue is one of four public statues of Cromwell in the United Kingdom and is Grade II listed for its architectural merit. DescriptionThe statue was sculpted by Hamo Thornycroft, and features Cromwell standing holding a sword and a bible. The bible is marked "Holy Bible 1641", and while the main statue of Cromwell is marked "Hamo Thornycroft 1897", the lion on the base is marked "1899". HistoryFollowing the fire which destroyed parts of the Palace of Westminster in the 19th century, the question whether or not Oliver Cromwell should have a statue in the reconstruction of the Palace was debated in the pages of The Times, and Punch magazine satirised the issue. The question was raised once more in the House of Commons in 1856, with John George Phillimore saying "any man who could object to a statue of Cromwell must be imbued with bigotry and party spirit in the highest degree". It was raised several more times over the following years by supporters of a statue.

A statue of Oliver Cromwell stands outside the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in Westminster, London. It is a sculpture of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. The statue was designed by Hamo Thornycroft and erected in 1899. It has divided opinion, both before its erection and since, due to Cromwell's opposition to the British monarchy and his role in the conquest of Ireland. Cromwell stands accused by some of war crimes, religious persecution and ethnic cleansing on a dramatic scale against Catholics in Ireland. The statue is one of four public statues of Cromwell in the United Kingdom and is Grade II listed for its architectural merit. DescriptionThe statue was sculpted by Hamo Thornycroft, and features Cromwell standing holding a sword and a bible. The bible is marked "Holy Bible 1641", and while the main statue of Cromwell is marked "Hamo Thornycroft 1897", the lion on the base is marked "1899". HistoryFollowing the fire which destroyed parts of the Palace of Westminster in the 19th century, the question whether or not Oliver Cromwell should have a statue in the reconstruction of the Palace was debated in the pages of The Times, and Punch magazine satirised the issue. The question was raised once more in the House of Commons in 1856, with John George Phillimore saying "any man who could object to a statue of Cromwell must be imbued with bigotry and party spirit in the highest degree". It was raised several more times over the following years by supporters of a statue.