2020.06.11 Robert Clayton Statue, London, England, United Kingdom
Following the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol on June 7, 2020, and the removal of the Robert Milligan statue in London on June 9, the Guy's and St Thomas' Charity announced plans to remove both the Clayton statue as well as that of Thomas Guy, who was an investor in the South Sea Company. Following the statement, the monument was boarded up.
Photo by Nathan Jones
On June 23, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity submitted an application to the Lambeth Planning Council for permission to remove the Clayton statue. In the Town Planning Statement—compiled by Savills alongside the above-mentioned Heritage Statement to supplement the request for removal—Savills writes: “As you will be aware, the last couple of weeks has seen important debate around the symbolism of public statues of historical figures associated with the slave trade. In recent days, a statue of Robert Clayton owned by the Applicant as part of its heritage collection has been highlighted in the media and become a potential target of protest.” As a result, “The statue has been boarded up and may require removal within the next few weeks, depending on the ongoing assessment of risk, and this listed building consent application has been submitted in advance of the statue’s physical removal.”
Photo by Aaron Chown
The accompanying Heritage Statement provides a case for removal, arguing that because the statue has been situated in various locations throughout its history, its deinstallation from its current location will not negatively impact the heritage value of the surrounding hospital or the Albert Embankment Conservation Area where it is located. The statue’s removal will, the Statement argues, increase its heritage value. “It is considered that these works will cause less than substantial harm to the significance of the listed statue towards [the] lower end of the spectrum of harm, and will provide a heritage benefit through the long term safeguarding of the inherent artistic and historic interests for which the statue is listed. The opportunity to supplement and enhance the interpretation of the historic narrative of the subject will increase the historic interest of the asset, and it is considered that this is only possible in a new location.”