Focus on South Bank Lion and discuss the History.
The lion was originally mounted on the parapet of James Goding's Lion Brewery on the Lambeth bank of the River Thames; Hungerford Bridge spanned the Thames nearby from 1845. The Lion Brewery closed in 1924 and the building was demolished in 1949, to make way for construction of the Royal Festival Hall as part of the Festival of Britain. The lion was removed, revealing the initials of the sculptor William Frederick Woodington and the date, 24 May 1837, under one of its paws. It was painted red as the symbol of British Rail, and mounted on high plinth beside the entrance to the Festival of Britain near Waterloo station.
The statue was moved in 1966 to allow the station to be extended. The red paint was removed, and the statue was erected in its current location on a large granite plinth at the east end of Westminster Bridge, to the north side, beside County Hall.  The plinth bears the inscription "The South Bank Lion".  The statue was given a Grade II* listing by English Heritage in 1981.
South Bank Westminster Bridge James Goding Festival of Britain Royal Festival Hall English Heritage County Hall William Frederick Woodington Lion Brewery British Rail Hungerford Bridge Waterloo station listing River Thames