Memorial Title

F Nightingale

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a Crimean War memorial statue to Florence Nightingale at Derby.

Images

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.
Further images may be available on request.

Locations

Last known location:
Roadside
London Rd (A5194 formerly A6)
Derby

Nearest postcode:
DE1 2QZ

NGR:
SK 35680 35651
(From online digital mapping.)
(Map opens in new window.)

Location details:
On the southwestern side of the road, about 75m southeast of the junction with Bradshaw Way.

Type

Overall type: Statue.

Overall condition: Fair. The inscription is legible and the memorial is cared for.

Description:

A carved stone statue on a stone pedestal at the centre of a concave stone bay. The statue depicts Florence Nightingale dressed as a Crimean nurse and holding a lamp aloft. The pedestal forms a projection from a backing wall that has a cornice and frieze at the head and two engaged columns to each side. The perimeter of the bay is formed by stone balustrades and benches, terminating in pillars with globe finials. The floor of the bay has stepped paving stones. A metal railing was added around the base of the statue at a later date.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Statue	White marble	c2200	c1000	c100	Fair
Wall	Sandstone	c2800	c1800	c800	Fair
Pedestal	Darley Dale Sandstone	c2000	c2300	c2100	Fair
Wall x 2	Sandstone	c2000	c3000	c4200	Fair
Pillar x 2	Sandstone	c2500	c500	c500	Fair
Paving	Stone	-	c7500	c2000	Fair
Railings	Metal	c2000	c2300	c2100	Fair
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

Frieze:

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	Crimean War (1854-1856) (Civilians)	Totals
Action	Unspecified
Number died	0	0
Number served and returned	1	1
Total names	1	1

FIAT LVX

Pedestal:

FLORENCE
NIGHTINGALE
1820-1910

Foot of statue:

FEODORA
GLEICHEN
1914

Administration

Custodian: Derby City Council

Local authorities:
Before 1974: Derby County Borough Council (Derby Corporation)
From 1974 to 1997: Derby District (later Borough and from 1977 City) Council and Derbyshire County Council.
Since 1997 the unitary authority has been Derby City Council.

History and Conservation

1913-1914: The statue was executed by HRH Princess Ferdora v Hohenlöhe-Langenberg, Sculptor, under the pseudonym of Countess Theodora V Gleichen. The cost in 1914 was £1700.

12th June, 1914: The memorial was unveiled by Victor C W Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire and dedicated by Rt Rev Dr Charles Abraham DD, Bishop Suffragan of Derby.

1930s: Railings were added around the pedestal.

c1950: Railings were removed from around the pedestal.

After 1950: Railings were replaced around the pedestal.

24 February 1977: The memorial was listed Grade II, Heritage List for England number 1228598.

c1980s: The lamp was stolen and subsequently replaced.

June, 2004: After public complaints that the statue was becoming grimy the lamp was again replaced,the sandstone blocks repointed, the railings repainted and the entire memorial cleaned by the Maintenance Section of the City Council's Property Services Division.

August 2006: The head of the statue was removed and damaged by vandals. The nose and part of the cheek were subsequently repaired by a specialist marble craftsman.

5th May, 2011: The memorial was photographed by Roy Branson. It was in fair condition and cared for.

July 2017: The statue was cleaned by Beech Restoration Ltd of Bulwell, Nottingham.

References

Derby Mercury; 19th June, 1914: an extensive account of the unveiling ceremony.

Rod Jewell, Memory Lane Derby, Breedon Books, 1998, ISBN 1859831192, p106: a photograph of the unveiling ceremony. (There were no railings on the original memorial.)

Maxwell Craven, An Illustrated History of Derby, Breedon Books, 2007, ISBN 9781859835555, p214: a photograph taken in 1950 (again without railings).

BBC News, 18th August, 2006: a report on the vandalism damage to the head.

Comments

Although the statue is located on the frontage of the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, and on land donated by the hopital, it was made clear by the Mayor of Derby at the unveiling ceremony, that it represented not only Florence Nightingale's association with that hospital, but also commemorated her work in the Crimean War.

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