Titanic Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A memorial statue by Sir Thomas Brock erected c.1920, formed in marble set on a chamfered and tapering square grey granite base with a plinth of two steps, of a female figure of Fame (holding a wreath) looking down on two sea-nymphs holding a drowned man. The top of the base is simply moulded and grotesque bronze heads supply fountains at front and back of the base.

Inscription (now in black but formerly gold leaf) on the main part of the base records the names of “those gallant Belfast men...who lost their lives on the 15th of April 1912 by the foundering of the Belfast-built RMS Titanic through collision with an iceberg, on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York”.

Setting

The memorial stands on lawn, with nearby limestone balustrading associated with the City Hall and a new low wall in grey granite erected 2012 recording further names from the disaster. This is one of a number of memorials in the grounds surrounding the City Hall (HB26/50/001A) and erected shortly after it (HB26/50/001B-001D and HB26/50/001F-001J). They complement one another as well as the main building. Many of the buildings around Donegall Square are similar in date, contributing to the context of this structure.

Pedestal: Grey granite with bronze detail
Statue: Carrara marble

Historical information

Unveiled in 1920 by the Lord Lieutenant in Ireland, Lord French, this monument by Sir Thomas Brock, commemorates the 1,490 victims who lost their lives when the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage, in April 1912.

The memorial in white Carrara marble features the female figure of Fame holding a laurel wreath, looking down toward two sea nymphs holding the body of a drowned man in their arms. Beneath is a granite pedestal, which featured a set of bronze drinking fountains to the front and rear, depicting the heads of dolphins. However, during the second half of the 20th century these drinking fountains were altered (Patton; Larmour). The inscription, originally in gold leaf, on the four sides of the pedestal commemorate and list the names of “…those gallant Belfast men…” who died in the maritime disaster, finishing with the words, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Originally commissioned in 1912, to the London-based sculptor Sir Thomas Brock, the execution of the memorial was postponed due to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914-18. The founding president of the Society of British Sculptors, Brock was one of the country’s leading sculptors of the time and his work was highly influential (ODNB). Well known for his many statues of Queen Victoria, Brock also executed the Victoria Monument in the grounds of the City Hall (HB26/50/001 A). The Titanic Monument was unveiled on 26th June 1920, but Brock was too weak to attend the ceremony and died two years later. This statue therefore represents one of the last examples of his completed work (Larmour).

The memorial was initially located in the middle of the road in Donegall Square North, however it was moved in 1959-60 to the eastern side of the City Hall grounds (Larmour). Cleaning and repair work was carried out on the memorial in 1992-93 with further work executed prior to the centenary anniversary of the sinking in April 2012 (HB File), including the painting of the inscription in brown enamel. The Titanic Monument is now surrounded by a memorial garden, which was opened on 15th April 2012 (BCC).

References:

Primary Sources

1. HB File (HB26/50/001 E)

Secondary Sources

1. Larmour, P “Belfast City Hall- An Architectural History” UAHS (2010)
2. McIntosh, Gillian “Belfast City Hall One Hundred Years” Belfast City Council (2006)
3. Patton, Marcus “Central Belfast- An Historical Gazetteer” UAHS, Belfast (1993)
4. www.dia.ie - Dictionary of Irish Architects online
5. (ODNB) “Oxford Dictionary of National Biography” Oxford University Press, (2004-12)
http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32080?docPos=1
6. (BCC) Belfast City Council “Titanic Memorial Garden and Monument”
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/cityhall/titanicmemorialgarden.asp

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
V. Authorship

Evaluation

A monument by Sir Thomas Brock, sculptor, erected in 1920, relocated c1960. This is one of the last works of the sculptor, who was one of the country’s leading sculptors at that time. An appropriately sombre memorial to those lost in the Titanic disaster, consisting of a group of figures (Fame and, below, two sea nymphs holding a drowned man above the water) freely sculpted in marble on a granite base recording the names of the victims. The memorial now forms one of an important group of high quality memorials (HB26/50/001B-J) in the grounds of Belfast City Hall (HB26/50/001A). It is a fine example of the work of a notable sculptor, reflecting the tragedy of one of the most significant icons of the Twentieth century.

General comments

Formerly HB26/50/006