Maker: Designed by George Blackall Simonds, Cast by Messrs. Young and Co. of Pimlico
Year: 1886
Location: Forbury Gardens, Reading
Type: Statue
Material: Iron, Portland Stone and Bronze
Accessibility: Easy step-free access into Forbury Gardens with a path leading all the way round to the memorial. Local parking and public transport nearby.
Description: The Maiwand Lion, also known as the Forbury Lion, commemorates the men from the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment of Foot who lost their lives in the battle of Maiwand, part of the Second Afghan War in 1880. This battle has been deemed as one of the bloodiest in history due to the number of men the Regiment were up against. The 31-foot and 16 ton lion is one of the biggest cast iron sculptures in the world. The pedestal was originally faced with terra cotta, but was refaced with stone in 1910 due to weathering. There are many myths around the Maiwand Lion, including that this is not a position a lion could stand in and Simonds was distraught with the outcome, so he killed himself. Both are false, with Simonds living to over the age of 80 and London Zoo confirming the anatomically correct position of the lion.
Berkshire Sculpture Park 