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A symmetrical
match for The Welsford Porch, it opens out onto what was once St James
Street but is now called Queen's Walk, a stately name for an inelegant
car park. The porch appears closed by railings but during the working
day a gate can be found allowing close inspection of the statuary
within. There are four royal figures on the inside walls to the left and
right. On the left are
King George VI holding a sword and his wife
Queen
Elisabeth (the Queen Mother). On the wall to the right are the bearded
King George V with his hands clasped and his wife
Queen Mary, in prayer.
This couple on the right are the King and Queen of Kingsway and
Queensway and are also commemorated in statues at the Queensway entrance
at Manchester Street / Dale St. There are 13 statues in the main
composition within the tri-form doors. A figure of
Christ teaching
crowns the composition, with two angels below. Beside and between the
doors there are ten figures representing work. Reading from left to
right they are: the
housewife with her broom, the
merchant with staff
and globe, the
builder with his trowel, the
labourer with his shovel,
the
farmer with his seed-corn, the fisherman - nets trailing to his
feet, the
shepherd carrying a lamb, the
good neighbour sharing his milk,
the
steward with his contracts and the
servant bringing victuals. For
those who find the Edwardian casting of the housewife and servant out of
keeping with the 21st century, a therapeutic visit to the Lady Chapel
within the cathedral is suggested for immediate salve. Alan Maycock © 2008 Walk 002 | Home
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