John Robert Godley (1814-1861) is often referred to as ‘the founder of Canterbury’.  This statue was unveiled on 8 August 1867 and was the first public commemorative statue in NZ.  The statue was cast in bronze at Coalbrookdale Foundry, Shropshire by noted English pre-Raphaelite artist Thomas Woolner (and is the only known work of Woolner in NZ).

On 2 April 1985, the statue was registered by the NZ Historic Places Trust as a Category I historic place.  In February 2015 the statue was placed back in Cathedral Square after being repaired following the Christchurch February 2011 earthquake.

Cathedral Square, Colombo Street, Central City

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godley_Stat...

Last updated: 09.05.2016