Lions of Bath 2010
A giant pride of 100 individually decorated, life-size lion sculptures has taken up residence in and around the World Heritage City of Bath in a colourful, public art event to raise funds for local charities and bring a smile to the faces of residents and visitors alike.
The colourful and majestic pride has been sponsored by a wide range of businesses, communities and individuals, has been decorated by talented artists and craftspeople from Bath and beyond, using their skill and imagination to produce fabulously eye-catching artworks from the beautiful to the bizarre.
The 6ft lion sculptures can be seen in prime locations across the city, in front of the 16th century Bath Abbey, in the Roman Baths, in front of the Royal Crescent, The Circus and even in Bath Spa train station, up on buildings, in parks and some rather unexpected locations... Keep your eyes peeled as lions lurk around every corner!
Safari Maps
If you are heading into Bath on lion safari this summer, the best way to maximise your chances of spotting all 100 members of the pride is to pick up one of the "Lions of Bath Safari maps", available from the Lions of Bath shop in Milsom Place and a number of other outlets around the city including the Bath Tourist Information Centre and the Bath Festivals Office.
Auction Preview Weekend
The lions will remain on public display throughout the summer before being brought back into their den in September to be restored to their former glory in preparation for the "Lions Roar Goodbye" auction preview weekend on 9th & 10th October.
This is definitely a date for the diary, as all 100 lions will be gathered together in one giant pride in front of the world famous Royal Crescent for a weekend of public viewing and entertainment, with stalls, music, mini-lion decorating workshops, food and drink - all on a big cat theme!
Lions of Bath charity auctions
The 100 lions will be sold at the Lions of Bath 2010 charity auctions on October 15th & 17th at the Assembly Rooms and Komedia in Bath. To register your interest in the auctions, please email info@lionsofbath.com
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Lion's return to the Den
Lions will start being brought in to their den from the second week of September, at a rate of about 5 a day, to be restored to their former glory for the "Lions Roar Goodbye" auction preview weekend on 9th & 10th October.
All of the lions will be off the streets of Bath by the beginning of October and will then re-emerge in prime condition for the auction preview weekend before heading off to the charity auctions on 15th & 17th October.
Please visit our NEWS page for the latest information about the "Lions of Bath 2010" pride
Please contact us:
- if you interested in event sponsorship
- if you have any other general enquiries
"The Bath Lion", sponsored by Longleat, in pride of place in front of Bath Abbey, with "Wayne Roarney" in the background...
Lions of Bath 2010 charities
Net proceeds from the Lions of Bath 2010 event will be donated to a number of local charities, including Off the Record, a charity that supports young carers aged 5-18 in Bath; the Quartet Community Foundation, which is being match funded by the government to the tune of up to 92p to every pound raised and will support a number of local community projects; and the Mayor's Relief Fund for Bath, which gives emergency funding for those in real need in the city. A percentage will also be ploughed back into a rolling fund for future public art projects in Bath.
Why Lions? The lion has been the symbol of royal England for nine hundred years.
The first King of all England, King Edgar, was crowned in Bath in 973AD, on the site of the present day Bath Abbey.
After his death at the age of 33, King Edgar "The Peaceful" was canonised and became Saint Edgar. His feast day is 8th July.
The three lion symbol of England was created by King Richard I (known as Richard the Lionheart - 1157-1199), who combined the lion crest of his father, King Henry II, with that of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and then added his own.
The picture below, which hangs outside the Coeur de Lion, the smallest pub in Bath, shows Richard the Lionheart riding into battle during the 12th century Crusades carrying a shield emblazoned with his three golden lion crest.
A lion is featured on the City of Bath Coat of Arms and over 500 images of lions can be seen in and around Bath, reflecting the royal heritage of the city.
The two magnificent bronze lion sculptures that guard the entrance to Royal Victoria Park mark its opening in 1830 by Queen Victoria when she was just 11 years old.
The park became the first in the world to be named after her and the recently restored lion statues celebrate their 180th anniversary this year.
Lions of Bath 2010 was inspired by the successful 2008 King Bladud's Pigs event, which raised £200,000 for Bath's Two Tunnels Project.
