Statues of Wallace and Gromit
The sculpture in 2021 | |
Interactive map of Statues of Wallace and Gromit | |
| Location | Preston, Lancashire, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°45′38″N 2°42′01″W / 53.760431°N 2.700171°W |
| Designer | Nick Park (main artist) |
| Type | Statue, bench monument |
| Material | Bronze |
| Opening date | 10 September 2021 |
| Dedicated to | Wallace and Gromit |
The statues of Wallace and Gromit is a bronze sculpture in Preston, Lancashire, England, at the corner of Earl and Market Streets, placed at the entrance to the Covered Market. It depicts the titular characters from Wallace & Gromit, a claymation franchise created by Nick Park and produced by Aardman Animations. It was designed by Park, together with other artists at Aardman Animations, and with local sculptor Peter Hodgkinson. The monument was unveiled on 10 September 2021.
History
The monument is dedicated to the titular characters from Wallace & Gromit, a claymation franchise created by Nick Park and produced by Aardman Animations. It was designed by Park, who grew up in Preston, together with other artists at Aardman Animations, and with local sculptor Peter Hodgkinson. The statues were unveiled on 10 September 2021. It was funded by the local town fund.[1][2][3]
On 20 February 2025, the statue of Feathers McGraw, a penguin antagonist and nemesis of Wallace and Gromit, was unveiled nearby at the corner of Lowthian and Orchard Streets, in front of the Animate Preston cinema on Tenterfield Street.[4]
Design
The sculpture consists of two bronze statues. In the foreground, it features Gromit, an anthropomorphic beagle dog, depicted sitting on a bench and reading a newspaper. Behind him stands Wallace, wearing one of the character's inventions, titled techno trousers, from the 1993 short film The Wrong Trousers.[1][2][3]
Also placed nearby is the statue of penguin antagonist Feathers McGraw, a nemesis of Wallace and Gromit who disguises himself as a chicken. He can be seen using a remote to control Wallace's trousers, mirroring the plot of the film.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Wallace and Gromit: Creator Nick Park unveils comedy duo's Preston statue". BBC News. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b Storer, Rhi (5 June 2021). "It's a cracking statue, Gromit: Preston unveils 'wrong trousers' bench". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b Girotto, Eleonora (11 September 2021). "Wallace and Gromit: Bronze statue of iconic duo unveiled in Preston by creator Nick Park". Independent. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ a b Burnell, Paul (20 February 2025). "Statue of Wallace and Gromit villain unveiled". BBC News. Retrieved 31 August 2025.