Bronze, granite and a curious pile of stones

Give your next Endcliffe Park wander a small treasure hunt. Three monuments connected with Queen Victoria offer three very different things to notice: a figure, a tall needle of stone, and an arrangement of rough rocks.

2 minute read · 17 October 2026

Start with the figures

Near the Hunter’s Bar end of the park, the Queen Victoria memorial rewards a closer look than a passing glance at the queen herself. Historic England identifies Alfred Turner as the sculptor of the 1904 work. Its bronze figures include seated representations of Industry and Motherhood beside Victoria, above a Portland-stone base. Look at how the figures relate to one another. What changes when you view the group from the side rather than straight ahead?

Find the pink granite

The Jubilee Obelisk takes a different approach. Made for the Golden Jubilee in 1887, it uses polished pink granite and a stepped stone pedestal to draw the eye upwards. Historic England’s description also records circular steps and cast-iron lamp standards, with their lamps removed. Let the material be your prompt here: compare the colour of the granite with the bronze memorial, and notice how a simple outline can make a monument feel very different from a group of figures.

The rocks with a date

The Jubilee Monument is different again. Its natural rocks were arranged in 1887 to resemble a dolmen, with an inscription, date and coat of arms on the upper stone. Wrought-iron railings surround it. Despite that ancient-looking form, this is a Victorian monument commemorating the park’s establishment. Looking for the date is a useful little exercise: a shape can suggest one story, while an inscription supplies another. Leave the stones and railings as you find them.

Make a page of your own

All three monuments are Grade II listed. You do not need to turn the outing into a history lesson to enjoy their differences. Try sketching each silhouette, or take one photograph of a small detail rather than the whole object. Children might choose a colour, a shape and a figure to remember. Then compare your choices over a drink. A familiar park can acquire a few new landmarks simply by giving yourself something particular to look for.