The statue of John Robert Godley, Cathedral Square

Godley Statue

Views of the Godley statue as he has moved around the square.

Godley Statue

Views of the Godley statue as he has moved around the square.

Godley Statue

Views of the Godley statue as he has moved around the square.

Godley Statue

Views of the Godley statue as he has moved around the square.

Topiary animals in Square:Festival of Flowers 2011

Godley Statue

Views of the Godley statue as he has moved around the square.

The statue of John Robert Godley, Cathedral Square

Godley Statue

Views of the Godley statue as he has moved around the square.

Godley Statue

Views of the Godley statue as he has moved around the square.

Godley Statue

Views of the Godley statue as he has moved around the square.

Cathedral Square

July 1899

The Godley statue is shown surrounded by lawn and cabbage trees and an elegant wrought iron fence. Some of the buildings in the background, shown from Worcester Street on the left, are the AMP building, Fletcher Humphries building, the Clark building and the original Government Life Insurance building. A tram advertising the department store of W. Strange & Co. is travelling through the Square and a hansom cab waits at the door of the Cathedral

Area: Central City / Cathedral Square

Source: The weekly press, 5 July 1899, p. 52

Reference ID: CCL-KPCD06-0019

Uploaded by: Christchurch City Libraries

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The Godley statue, Cathedral Square, Christchurch

Circa 1870

Possibly the first commemorative sculpture in New Zealand, the statue was executed by the Englishman Thomas Woolner (1825-1892). The statue was cast in bronze at Coalbrookdale Foundry, Shropshire, and was exhibited at the South Kensington Museum (later, Victoria and Albert Museum) in London before being sent to Christchurch. William Brassington had been instructed to make a plinth out of Hoon Hay stone. However, the dimensions were incorrect and there was a delay of nine months while another plinth was made. On 8 Aug. 1867 the Christchurch magistrate, Charles Bowen, who had once been Godley's secretary, unveiled the statue before a 2000-strong crowd. The statue remained in front of the Cathedral until 5 Mar. 1918 when it was moved to the north of the Cathedral to make way for a tram shelter and toilets. These facilities were later demolished and the statue returned to its original position in 1933.

Area: Central City / Cathedral Square

Reference ID: CCL-KPCD05-0096

Uploaded by: Christchurch City Libraries

John Robert Godley statue, Cathedral Square, Christchurch

1920

Woolner's fine statue of Robert Godley, which stands in the Cathedral grounds, represents the pioneer colonist waiting to welcome the 'Pilgrims' to Lyttelton

Area: Central City / Cathedral Square

Reference ID: CCL-KPCD17-0014

Uploaded by: Christchurch City Libraries

Topiary animals in Square:Festival of Flowers 2011

2011

Topiary animals, deer and elephant,in Square:Festival of Flowers 2011

Creator: CathWh

Area: Central City / Cathedral Square

Contributor: CathWh

Source: Kete Christchurch

Reference ID: CCL-Kete-13259

Uploaded by: Christchurch City Libraries

The statue of John Robert Godley, Cathedral Square

Circa 1930

Possibly the first commemorative sculpture in New Zealand, the statue was executed by the Englishman Thomas Woolner (1825-1892). The statue was cast in bronze at Coalbrookdale Foundry, Shropshire, and was exhibited at the South Kensington Museum (later, Victoria and Albert Museum) in London before being sent to Christchurch. William Brassington had been instructed to make a plinth out of Hoon Hay stone. However, the dimensions were incorrect and there was a delay of nine months while another plinth was made. On 8 August 1867 the Christchurch magistrate, Charles Bowen, who had once been Godley's secretary, unveiled the statue before a 2000-strong crowd. The statue remained in Cathedral Square until 5 March 1918 when it was removed to make way for a tram shelter and toilets. These facilities were later demolished and the statue returned to its original position in 1933.

Area: Central City / Cathedral Square