You may have lived in Peterborough your entire life and think you know everything about the city, but there are always new things to learn.
If you’ve grown up in Peterborough, chances are you’ll have passed through the city centre hundreds, if not thousands of times over the years.
Cathedral Square, Long Causeway and Bridge Street are three of the city centre’s busiest areas and used by thousands of people each day, but how many of those take time to stop and take notice of their surroundings?
Dotted around Peterborough are dozens of statues, sculptures, plaques and other landmarks that don’t always get the attention they deserve.
Some of them have stood for generations, but perhaps due to their diminutive stature are hardly noticed by passers-by.
We’ve taken a look at six little-known statues and sculptures around Peterborough that you’ve probably walked past without even realising.
Discover them below:
1. Places to Be
Positioned on rooftops around Cathedral Square, the three life-sized sculptures occupy unexpected vantage points. Installed in their current locations in 2018, they were carefully re-sited onto prominent buildings including Queensgate and nearby commercial spaces. The sculptures form part of Gormley’s early Three Part Lead Bodycase Works, created between 1981 and 1985. These works marked a significant moment in his practice, using casts of his own body to explore the relationship between the human form and the space it inhabits. Originally installed near the rowing lake at Nene Park in the 1980s, the sculptures have since been brought into the heart of the city. Photo: PT
2. Memorial to Peace-keeping in Northern Ireland
Located in the centre of Bishop's Gardens is the Memorial to Peace-keeping in Northern Ireland. The sculpture, consisting of four large rock pieces, was erected in memory of three former servicemen - Colin Beckett, Michael Boddy and Stephen Restorick - who lost their lives in the line of duty. Photo: PT
3. Voice of the City
The Voice of the City sculpture in Lower Bridge Street was erected in 2017. The large bronze and stone sculpture was made by artist Stephen Broadbent to honour Henry Penn, a prolific local bellfounder. Photo: Google
4. Visions of Nature
Visions of Nature by Jeni Cairns is positioned to the east of Ferry Meadows in Nene Park. The metal sculpture was erected in September 2017 and shows the outline of three birds along with vegetation. Photo: AC/Google