When the committee reported the following year, they proposed two: a statue erected in a public place in Romsey, and an addition to or restoration of the Abbey Church. It was agreed to investigate both. By January 1867, the committee reported that more than £1200 had been collected, a stained glass window for the Abbey was proposed, and William Cowper, Palmerston’s son-in-law, offered to commission the statue for the Market Place. The statue, created by leading British portrait sculptor Matthew Noble, was cast in bronze by Henry Prince & Co of Southwark. It was placed on a granite pedestal and represents Lord Palmerston addressing the House of Commons. The mayor, Mr Cressey, worked very hard to ensure both memorials were ready and a ceremony prepared for the unveiling on July 21, 1868.
The day of the unveiling was a holiday in the town, which was decorated with flags and greenery and attracted many visitors, including many of Palmerston’s parliamentary colleagues.
The Market Place was enclosed with ropes and railings, which were decorated with evergreens. A number of high poles were erected adorned with coloured streamers and the letter ‘P’. Tickets to view the ceremony were on sale for 5 shillings, ½ guinea and 1 guinea. The Town council and guests, and two bands assembled at the Town hall and processed first to the gates of Broadlands park and then back to the Abbey church, where the memorial window was unveiled and a service held. Returning to the Market Place, the statue was unveiled. The Prime Minister, Mr Gladstone, had been expected to attend, but he was unavoidably detained at the House of Commons. However, he came the following day and gave his speech outside the Town Hall. So Romsey had two days of celebrations.
Prominently situated in the Market Place and often decorated for carnivals, the statue has been the central location for celebrations from the end of the Boer War, meetings of the local hunt, the annual St George’s Day parade of the Scouts and Guides and visits of Royalty.
Jane Powell & Colin Moretti,
Romsey Local History Society
