The Albert Memorial is located in Kensington Gardens, directly north of the Royal Albert Hall. It was built in memory of Prince Albert by his wife, Queen Victoria.

Prince Albert died in 1861 at the young age of 42, a victim of typhoid fever. Queen Victoria mourned him for the rest of her life, wearing black and rarely appearing in public. She had many statues erected in his honour, but this memorial was the crown jewel of them. It is considered by many to be the perfect architectural symbol of the High Victorian period.

The memorial consists of a large central figure, a seated statue of Prince Albert. The base of this figure is surrounded by the Frieze of Parnassus, which contains 169 life-sized carvings of individual architects, composers, painters, poets and sculptors from history.

There is a large canopy arching over the figure of Albert, it soars to 176 feet at the top of its spire. The canopy is adorned inside and out with mosaics made of enamel and semi-precious stones representing the arts and several historical figures.

The niches and pillars of the canopy have carvings representing the practical arts and sciences; near the top of the canopy’s tower are statues representing Christian and moral values.

At the corner of the central area are large sculptures depicting agriculture, manufacturing, commerce and engineering, and at the corners of the outer area, are sculpture groups representing Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

The memorial was planned by a group of architects, led by Sir George Gilbert Scott. A team of sculptors led by Henry Hugh Armstead created all the massive carvings.

John Henry Foley began the central figure of Prince Albert, but it was finished by Thomas Brock, and was his first major work. It was truly a massive undertaking, and it was more than 10 years from Prince Albert’s death before it was completed, at a cost of £120,000. The memorial was unveiled by Queen Victoria in 1876.

By the 1990s, the memorial was in dire need of repairs, so major restorations were undertaken. The entire monument was cleaned, repainted and gilded and structural repairs were made. The central figure of Albert, once time-blackened, now gleams with fresh gold leaf.

The Albert Memorial once again stands as a shining tribute to one remarkable woman’s love for her husband.

Visiting Albert Memorial

Address: Kensington Gardens, 27 Princes Square, South Kensington, W2 2NJ

Telephone: 020 7495 0196

Photo courtesy: amandabhslater

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