The Railway Engineering Legend - Thomas Brassey
A new bronze statue of Thomas Brassey appeared outside Chester Railway Station and it’s brilliant! People stop, look, read, reflect and connect. That’s the mark of a great piece of public art.
The bronze sculpture, created by the talented Andrew Edwards, captures Brassey holding a map of the Chester to Holyhead line. It’s a subtle but powerful nod to his pivotal role in shaping the railway network across this region and far beyond. I really admire the skill that went into creating the statue. The textured map is outstanding and the inclusion of railway tracks and coal beneath Brassey's feet adds both context and character to the design. I appreciate this attention to detail.
Why does it matter? Brassey was a Cestrian and one of the greatest railway builders of the 19th Century. Chester station, which opened in 1848, was one of his projects. A practical visionary and humanitarian, he changed the face of transport infrastructure across the world. By 1847, he had built a third of Britain’s railways and one in every 20 miles of railway worldwide. At his peak, he employed more than 80,000 people. As well as infrastructure, he improved the welfare of his workforce by introducing better clothing, fairer wages and proper rations. I like the character behind the impact.
“Brassey: The greatest railway builder in the world of the Industrial Age"
This statue was funded by donations raised by the Thomas Brassey Society; a fitting tribute driven by those who understand just how significant his legacy is and hats off to them for bringing attention to an engineering legend.
Why it also resonates with me, is that It adds a new layer to the city's heritage, which is largely known, by most, for its Roman walls or Medieval rows. It rightly celebrates the city's industrial heritage and the man whose legacy impacts us today. I, for one, love it!
