Focus on Statue of John Howard, Bedford and explore the History.
A previous memorial to Howard erected c. 1820 in Kherson, in modern-day Ukraine, where he died, had fallen into disrepair.  In 1889 the Howard Memorial Committee was formed.  The committee selected the Market Square as the location for the monument, and Alfred Gilbert as the sculptor.
The Market Square was previously the location of a drinking fountain, designed by John Usher, that had been presented to the town by Thomas Wesley Turnley (solicitor, 1809-1875), erected in 1870 and demolished in 1880.  The steps of the drinking fountain were re-used and upon them the plinth was raised.
The statue was unveiled on the 28 March 1894 by Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford.  The Rifle Volunteers formed a square and the Bedford Volunteer Fire Brigade was in attendance with a steam fire engine. Gilbert refused to attend, as he had done with the unveiling of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain in 1893.Historic England designated the statue as a Grade I listed structure, its highest grade, in 1971.
Bedford Volunteer Fire Brigade Bedford Alfred Gilbert Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain Grade I listed structure Kherson Historic England Rifle Volunteers