Memorial to King George V, Birkenhead

One of the earliest memorials to be erected in the country to King George V. was unveiled at Birkenhead yesterday afternoon, when the townspeople paid homage to the late King. 

The memorial provided out funds subscribed by the townspeople, has been erected in gardens adjoining the Central Library in Borough Road, which building was opened by his late Majesty on 18 July 1934 when he visited Merseyside for the opening of the Mersey Tunnel and takes the form of a massive central pillar of stone twelve feet in height with a bust of the King in bronze in the archway of the pillar. On either side of the central motif are stone seats, the whole memorial extending over thirty feet. The seats are semi-circular in shape, and fronting the memorial, which faces Borough Road, is a broad plateau. The bust forms a striking likeness of the late King. It is the work of Mr. H. Tyson Smith, sculptor, of Liverpool, while the whole memorial has been designed by Messrs Gray Evans and Crossley, architects, of Liverpool. Made of Portland stone, with the pavements and surrounds of Yorkshire stone. the memorial has been erected by Messrs Henry Clegg and Sons. of Birkenhead and Chester, the stone having been dressed by Birkenhead men at the local yard of the firm.  [Liverpool Daily Post 11 May 1937 page 6]