The Colston statue still standing in Bristol

News / Edward Colston By Martin Booth, Wednesday Jun 7, 2023 Three years to the

News / Edward Colston

By Martin Booth, Wednesday Jun 7, 2023

Three years to the day after the statue of Edward Colston was toppled in Bristol, another statue glorifying the slave trader still stands in the city centre.

This statue is more well hidden than the one that was pulled down, dragged to near Pero's Bridge and then dumped in the docks on June 7 2020.

But the statue is still on display to the side of a historic building in the Old City that is currently being transformed into a luxury hotel.

Edward Colston is just one of a number of statues on the side of the Guildhall – photo: Martin Booth

While the metal statue of Colston remains in storage, this stone statue can be found on the side of the Guildhall on Broad Street.

Colston is one of a number of statues of Bristol figures by John Thomas on the Guildhall, which was built between 1843 and 1846, replacing a much older building.

It means that his statue here is more than 50 years older than the more famous statue that was briefly put on display at the M Shed.

Both statues were erected at a time when Colston – who died in London in 1721 – was still venerated as a near deity.

But the cult of Colston continued long after that, with the Society of Merchant Venturers keeping his hair fingernails and hair on display at their headquarters in Clifton until less than a decade ago.

The original Guildhall was the seat of Bristol's local government, but this version was built to house the mayor's parlour, quarter sessions, assizes and occasional Corporation business such as elections – photo: Martin Booth

Learn more about this Colston statue on a walk around the hidden corners of the Old City with Martin Booth and Yuup: www.yuup.co/experiences/explore-bristol-s-quirkiest-corners

Main photo: Martin Booth

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