Equestrian Statue of King George I

Title: Equestrian Statue of King George I

Built in: 1722

Location: University of Birmingham East gate

Short intro: memorial statue to King George I

Description: The Equestrian Statue of King George I was originally commissioned in Dublin, Ireland, in 1717 as a gesture of loyalty towards George I (who had been King of Great Britain and Ireland since August 1714. This work was unveiled on a pier of Essex Bridge in Dublin on 1st August 1722. It had been constructed in the workshop of John Nost the Elder, making it the oldest public sculpture in Birmingham. When Ireland won its independence from Britain, republicans targeted monuments associated with their former rulers. This statue of George I miraculously survived, likely as it resided in the garden of Dublin Manor. It was sold in 1937, with the Trustees of the Barber Institute purchasing the statue, making it the oldest memorial work in Birmingham.