Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > Curiosity of the week > The statue of King Charles I, Trafalgar Square

The statue of King Charles I, Trafalgar Square

By Caroline King - February 16, 2013Posted in : Curiosity of the week, Heritage

Curiosity of the Week - King Charles I Statue - Contrary Life

The King Charles I statue – the point from which distances to London are measured

Not all statues are just statues.  There are more to some than meets the eye.  A good example of this is the statue of King Charles I, just south of Trafalgar Square in London. This is the point from which road distances to London are traditionally measured.  So all those signposts you see telling you how many miles there are until you reach London are measured from this central point.

If you look at the ground by the statue you will see a small plaque which explains that originally on this spot was Queen Eleanor’s Cross.  It states that all measurements are taken from this site, now occupied by the statue. The Queen Eleanor Cross itself has an interesting story, more of which can be found here.  The cross was sadly destroyed during the Civil War in 1647 and was later replaced by the statue you can see today.  A replica of this cross can be found in front of Charing Cross Station.

The King Charles I statue was cast by French sculptor Hubert Le Sueur in 1638 but was ordered to be melted down by Parliament.  Unlike the cross though, it survived.  Metalsmith, John Rivet, hid the statue instead of melting it down.  After the Restoration it was placed on a pedestal in its current location.  The statue has remained there ever since, except for its brief evacuation to Leighton Buzzard during WWII.

Curiosity of the Week - King Charles I Statue - Contrary Life

The plaque next to the statue of King Charles I

If you know of a curiosity that you think should be featured, then drop us an email with a picture and a few words to info@contrarylife.com.  If you’ve spotted a quirky building, unusual architectural feature or some other random object on your travels around the UK then we want to hear from you!

Related Posts

  • John Snow's Cholera Pump
  • An alternative view of London
  • Meard Street in Soho
  • Political satire at The Pleasance with Coalition
  • Curiosity of the week: Postman's Park
  • Curiosity of the week: heroic railings in Oval

Tagged With: Curiosity of the week, King Charles I statue, London, Trafalgar Square

Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

Make some noise for Whitby’s Krampus Run
Whitby Krampus Run 2018 - photo by Cassandra Sutton

As Father Christmas makes his annual visit to towns across the UK this weekend, there’s another, much darker character making his way to Whitby in North Yorkshire…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 · Contrary Life