J W Singer & Sons name on the 8 City Square nymphs.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 04 Jul, 2013 10:07 pm

The statues in City Square include the pairs (4 in total) of ‘Morn’ and ‘Even’ nymphs. On each it very obviously states “The Gift of T. Walter Harding 1903” and “Alf. Drury A.R.A.Sc.”. On recently looking closer I noticed for the first time that all 8 also have (in much smaller lettering) “J.W.Singer & Sons Ltd Founders”. I wondered if the latter was, or had been, a Leeds foundry. On doing a search I however found that was not the case. In information I found it stated J.W.Singer & Sons Ltd was founded in 1847 or 1848 in Frome, Somerset and when John Webb (J.W.) Singer died in 1904 the firm’s statue work already had a world-wide market. The company now manufacturers and supplies brass sprinkler frames for the fire protection industry as a subsidiary of Tyco Fire Products.John Webb Singer cast his first brass altar candlesticks in 1848 using turnips as moulds (that’s intriguing!) and a new statue foundry was built in 1888. One of the first statues cast was a copy of General Gordon riding a camel. The firm was also responsible for the bronze statue of Boudica with her daughters in her war chariot that stands next to Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. The statue of Lady Justice on dome above the Old Bailey was cast by Singers. The statue of Alfred the Great at Winchester was a further commission and other statues from Singers have been exported round the world. T. W. Harding was the first Lord Mayor of Leeds from 1898 to 1899.So J.W.Singer & Sons was not a Leeds firm but I hope this has still been of interest. The photo (taken June 25 2013) shows the name on one of the nymph statues (it is the same on the other 7). The statues of Joseph Priestley and James Watt also have “J.W.Singer & Sons Ltd Founders” on them but those of Dr Hook and John Harrison do not seem to have (if they do then I did not spot it).

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Sat 06 Jul, 2013 6:32 pm

Thanks for that -- we go past these things regularly but don't always spot the detail and find out their story.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 06 Jul, 2013 6:51 pm

BarFly wrote: Thanks for that -- we go past these things regularly but don't always spot the detail and find out their story. Thanks BarFly. PS. I'm still fascinated by the use of turnips for the candlestick moulds!

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Sat 06 Jul, 2013 7:08 pm

Leodian wrote: PS. I'm still fascinated by the use of turnips for the candlestick moulds! I suppose they were easy to carve and cheap and plentiful. It is a rather ingenious idea, isn't it?

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Sun 07 Jul, 2013 8:50 pm

Thanks for the post Barfly i enjoyed reading that.

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Sun 07 Jul, 2013 10:10 pm

tilly wrote: Thanks for the post Barfly i enjoyed reading that. I think it's Leodian you should be thanking