Nottingham, SB0077, Fergus O'Connor

Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

Fergus O'Connor

Region ID	NM
Work ID	102
Manual Reference	SB0077
Title	Fergus O'Connor
Sculptor	Robinson
Date of design
Year of unveiling
Unveiling details	Unveiled 26 August 1859
Road	Nottingham Arboretum
Precise Location	Side of the path leading from Addison Street entrance of Arboretum to the Chinese Bell gardens
A to Z Ref	223 D4
OS Ref	SK568408
Postcode	NG1
Work is	Extant
Listing Status	Not listed
Duty of Care	Nottingham City Council
Commissioned by
Notes
The stepped base-plinth and pedestal are surmounted by a life-sized statue representing Feargus O'Connor, depicted as a barrister in the act of delivering a speech.The Victorian gentleman stands with his right leg forward, left hand on his breast/waistcoat. In his right hand he holds a scroll.
The cost of the memorial was met by Chartist supporters nationally. here were however, protests against the erection of the statue almost from the moment of its inception. The statue has 'suffered many indignities in the past, and on one occasion was tarred and feathered.'1 See also 'Nottingham Statue Damage'.2
O'Connor was MP for Nottingham 1847-52, and was founder of the Chartist political activist group. He died in an asylum in 1855. [See notes in file]
circa
raw year
Condition	Don't know
At risk	No known risk
Inscriptions	On front of pedestal: FEARGUS O'CONNOR. ESQ. M.P./THIS STATUE WAS ERECTED/ BY HIS ADMIRERS/1859
Signatures	Sculptor's mark on left of base: J.B. Robinson/Sculptor/Derby

Elements

Element Details

Assessment of Condition

Surface Character

Detail	Comment
Abrasions, cracks, splits	Green lichen/mould on body, some on plinth.
Biological growth

Structural Condition

Structural Condition	Comment
Cracks, splits, breaks, holes	Chips missing all over main plinth and body

Vandalism

Vandalism	Comment
Graffiti	on plinth. Paint (?) down leg, red marks on scroll.