Chichester City Council has asked permission to leave a statue of Lord Nelson and the Captain of his Fleet outside its offices permanently.
Planning permission was give in 2020 to erect the resin and bronze statue of Nelson and Sir George Murray outside The Council House – Murray’s former home – in North Street, for five years.
A one-year extension was granted in 2025 and now the city council wants permission from the district council to leave the sculpture in place for good.
The statue, by sculptor Vincent Gray, was awarded a Public and Community Award by Sussex Heritage Trust in 2022.
George Murray was born in Chichester in 1759 and joined the Royal Navy when he was 11.
A plaque next to the sculpture reads: “He rose swiftly through the ranks and first served under Admiral Nelson in 1801 when the two men became close friends. Murray was Nelson’s Captain of the Fleet but had to miss the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 as he was sorting out the estate of his late father-in-law.
“Had he been there, it was likely that he would have been at Nelson’s side when he died, rather than Hardy.”
George Murray became Mayor of Chichester in 1815, the year he was knighted, and died in the city in 1819.
A statement submitted with the application said: “The proposed sculpture reflects part of Chichester’s unique heritage and is, therefore, of great public interest.
“It also provides a focus and appropriate point of interest within the open civic space. The location has a strong connection with the sculpture’s subject matter. There would be no harm to any heritage asset, including The Council House and the Conservation Area.”
To view the application, log on to publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk and search for 26/00909/FUL.
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