Glasgow, GO/002, Monument to Sir William Pearce

Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

Monument to Sir William Pearce Photograph

Region ID	GW
Work ID	125
Manual Reference	GO/002
Title	Monument to Sir William Pearce
Sculptor	Ford, Edward Onslow
Foundry	Broad & Sons, London
Sculptor	MacDonald, of Aberdeen
Date of design	1892-94.
Year of unveiling	1894
Unveiling details	6 October 1894
Road	Govan Road
Precise Location	Govan Road, at junction of Govan Road and Burleigh Street
A to Z Ref	34 K13
OS Ref
Postcode	G51
Work is	Extant
Listing Status	II*
Duty of Care	Glasgow City Council
Commissioned by	Pearce Memorial Fund Committee
Notes
Standing, draped portrait statue of Sir William Pearce holding the plans of a steamship, possibly the ' Achilles', on a polished pink granite pedestal
Ford's plans of the statue were approved by the General Committee of the Pearce Memorial Fund on 4th October 1892. The statue is known locally as the 'Black Man' because of its discolouration
Sir William Pearce (1833-1888). Born at Brompton, Kent. Apprenticed as a shipbuilder, he studied at the Royal Naval College, Chatham. In 1861 he was appointed to oversee the construction of iron warships at H.M. Shipyards at Chatham. He was appointed a manager in Rober Napier & Sons shipyard in Govan in 1864 and distinguihed himself as a designer. He later became a partner in the Randolph Elder shipyard and in 1878 became its owner. In the following decade the firm produced a series of ships which enhanced his reputation and that of the firm. The most notable of these were the fast liners Arizona, Alaska, and Stirling Castle. He became the Member of Parliament for Govan in 1885. Amongst his many and achievements is the rescuing of the gatehouse of the Old Glasgow College and the funding for its re-erection as the Pearce Lodge at Glasgow University. He received a Baronetcy in 1887, and died in London in 1888
circa
raw year	1894
Condition	Poor
At risk	No known risk
Inscriptions	In incised Roman lettering in recessed panels on pedestal: East face: SIR WILLIAM PEARCE / BART. M.P. / DIED / 16TH DECEMBER 1888 / AGED 55 YEARS. North face: AS A SHIPBUILDER AND ENGINEER / HIS ORIGINALITY OF THOUGHT / AND HIS MARVELLOUS SKILL IN EXECUTION / CONTRIBUTED LARGELY TO THE / DEVELOPMENT OF THE NAVY / AND MERCANTILE MARINE. / IN TOKEN OF HIS EMINENCE / IN HIS PROFESSION HE WAS / CREATED A BARONET IN 1887. HIS EXTENSIVE AND / ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE LED TO / HIS APPOINTMENT TO SERVE ON / THE ROYAL COMMISSIONS ON / TONNAGE, LOSS OF LIFE AT SEA / AND DEPRESSION OF TRADE. / HIS CAREER FURNISHED A / STRIKING EXAMPLE OF WHAT / GENIUS COMBINED WITH ENERGY, / INDUSTRY AND INDOMITABLE / COURAGE MAY ACCOMPLISH, EVEN / IN A SHORT BUSINESS LIFETIME. South face: FOR A TIME HE SERVED AS / A COMMISSIONER OF POLICE / OF THE BURGH OF GOVAN. / HE WAS ALSO HONORARY / COLONEL OF THE SECOND / VOLUNTEER BATTALION / HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY; / PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER / OF GLASGOW. / COMMISIONER OF SUPPLY, / JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, / AND DEPUTY LIEUTENANT / OF THE COUNTY OF LANARK. / WHEN GOVAN WAS MADE / A PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION / IN 1885 HE WAS RETURNED AS / ITS FIRST REPRESENTATIVE, AND WAS RE-ELECTED IN 1886. West face: ERECTED / BY / PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION / IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION / OF HIS NUMEROUS NOBLE / QUALITIES, AS A MAN AND / EMPLOYER OF LABOUR / 1894
Signatures	On small plaque affixed to statue plinth, north face: BROAD AND SON / FOUNDERS. LONDON

Elements

Element Details

Part of work	Material	Dimensions
Statue	Bronze
Pedestal	Polished pink granite

Assessment of Condition

Surface Character

Detail	Comment
Corrosion, Deterioration	Patination and corrosion on surface of statue
Accretions	Small founder's plaque fixed to statue plinth, north face

Structural Condition

Structural Condition	Comment
None

Vandalism

Vandalism	Comment
Graffiti	Inking on pedestal