ONE of Derry’s best known landmark sculptures is to get a facelift which could well change him significantly.
Work starts next Monday on the refurbishment of a seven foot statue of former MP, Sir Robert Alexander-Ferguson known to generations of Derry people simply as “the black man.” According to Derry parks development officer, Colin Kennedy, the final result could be quite dramatic.
Since 1927, Sir Robert’s statue has stood at the entrance to the city’s Brooke Park, having been moved there from the Diamond to facilitate Derry’s cenotaph.
Cast in bronze by renowned Dublin sculpture, John Edwards-Jones in 1862, Sir Robert’s statue has stood witness to two world wars, a war of independence and a civil war as well as the Troubles.
However, the years have taken their toll, changing him from his original bronze to black, according to Mr Kennedy.
“He was painted with black paint (giving him the Derry name, The Black Man) but when that’s all stripped off back to the original bronze, he’s more than likely going to be a dark chocolate brown, rather than black,” Mr Kennedy said.
Born into a wealthy family in 1795, Alexander-Ferguson held a number of positions including colonel of the county militia before he was elected to parliament in 1830.
He was an influential politician who was difficult to pin down. Some opponents described him as “an old Tory” he was returned to represent Derry as a liberal.
Mr Kennedy said many Derry people failed to appreciate the uniqueness of the “black man.” Cast by Edwards-Jones, it is believed to be his only public sculpture.
“His (Edwards-Jones) list of sitters include many eminent members of nineteenth century society such as Daniel O’Connell, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, William Dargan, Prince Louis Napoleon (president of France), King Louis Philippe of Holland, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Wellington,” Mr Kennedy said.
Mr Kennedy said the new-look Sir Robert would be rededicated at the official opening of the refurbished Brooke Park on August 6, exactly 100 years after the park first opened.
While the structure will not be changed, the restoration will undoubtedly change the colour and Sir Robert may have to take on a new nick name for future generations.
