Elephant Sculpture in Leamington Spa

 (Photos by FLAG member)

 

Why are there so many sculptures of elephants, books about elephants, at least one bakery, and pictures decorating the walls of cafes etc in Leamington Spa?  

Probably down to Sam Lockhart, an elephant trainer who began his working life as a circus acrobat and moved around the world with his circus acts including performing elephants. He was born in 1850. His father was a circus performer who described himself as‘Professor of Gymnastics’ on the census.

He purchased his first elephants whilst in Burma and he had a large troup which travelled with him. He certainly lived in Leamington Spa for some time and there is some anecdotal evidence that circus elephants were washed from what is now called the Elephant Walk in Priory Terrace in the 20th century but a lot of people doubt it. Elephants love water and to bathe, so it seems a logical thing to do to me! 

When they were turning the old Council offices on Warwick New Road into flats, large bones probably of an elephant were found in the grounds although quick lime had almost destroyed them.The development is called Wilhelmina Close. There is a Haddie and Trilby bakery on Dale Street.

When Sam died he was described by the Leamington Courier newspaper as a ‘retired giant of the entertainment industry’ If you want to read more about him I suggest clicking this link.

 

The Three Graces, by Philippa Downes, Livery Street, Leamington Spa, Bronze

  

Philippa says:

"Recently we installed three bronze elephants titled ‘The Three Graces ‘ in Regents Court, Royal Leamington Spa commissioned by New River Retail. They were sculpted out of polystyrene and plaster , then were taken to the bronze foundry to be moulded and cast in bronze. The whole process took around five months from start to finish. They were a great piece to work on and it’s lovely to see the local children interacting and playing on the elephants now they are in place" .

She describes herself as " Sculptor, prop maker and effect specialist"

 

 

The Three Graces were commissioned by New River Retails for the new Livery Street, and celebrate Sam Lockhart who lived in Leamington Spa for over eighty years and shows the most famous of his troupe, Wilhelmina, Haddie and Trilby.

 Elephant Seat by Nicholas Dimbleby (1946-2024) Stone and bronze.

1978 Commissioned by Warwickshire County Council 

Above is a round seating area with three elephant sculptures around the circular seat. There is a child on the back of the elephant closest to the camera. It was made in 1978, and was sited in what is now the inside of the Royal Priors Shopping Centre, but at the time it was outside in Whiteshead Court. It was re-sited in the Jephson Gardens in 2015

Dimbleby began his career as an assistant to abstract sculptor William Pye in London. After briefly living in rural France, he returned to the UK and established a studio in Devon, where he settled permanently.He worked on public and private projects, including portraits of sports personalities such as rugby player Jonny Wilkinson and rower Steve Redgrave He also produced private commissions for the British royal family, including a lifecast of Lady Louise Windsor for her parents, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and several pieces commissioned by King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales. He also created sculpture of Captain Cook on High Green, Great Ayton. (Wiki)

The seat is placed on level ground at the side of the river opposite the supposed Elephant Wash.