| Statue of Robert Baden-Powell | |
|---|---|
 The statue at Gilwell Park | |
| Artist | Don Potter |
| Year | 1960 |
| Medium | Granite |
| Subject | Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell |
| Dimensions | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Location | Gilwell Park, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
| Owner | The Scout Association |
A statue ofRobert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, the founder ofScouting, formerly stood in front ofBaden-Powell House inLondon and is now atGilwell Park inEssex, nearEpping Forest. Carved fromgranite by the sculptorDon Potter, it was installed and unveiled in 1961. It remained at Baden-Powell House until August 2021.[1]
The statue is made fromCornish granite,[2] which is rare because granite is a difficult material to work with. Potter had been involved in the Scouting movement and Baden-Powell had been a patron of his, commissioning carved totem poles from him.[3] The statue is a 3 metres (9.8 ft) tall granite sculpture depicting an elderly Baden-Powell, dressed in his Scouting uniform and wearing a cape. Baden-Powell's arms are crossed in front of his waist. His left hand rests upon a walking stick or tree branch; his right hand rests upon his left wrist. Hiscampaign hat is tucked behind his right elbow, the brim held by the thumb and forefinger of his left hand. Below his neckerchief is hisBronze Wolf medal.
The statue was unveiled on 12 July 1961 byPrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who was the President of the Scouts. The inscription on the plaque at the sculpture's base reads:
A preparatory model for the sculpture is in the collection of the Scouts Heritage Service, also in Gilwell Park.[5]
Media related toStatue of Robert Baden-Powell, Gilwell Park at Wikimedia Commons
