The White Greyhound of Richmond

myminifactory

This sculpture represents The White Greyhound of Richmond, one of the Queen's Beasts that showcased great British heritage. The original ten heraldic statues known as Queen’s Beasts were created by the Ministry of Works for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953 by renowned sculptor James Woodford. After careful consideration it was decided to gift these iconic statues to a Commonwealth government and Canada was chosen as the recipient in 1959. Today they can be seen proudly displayed at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec. In 1956, another replica set of Queen's Beasts were crafted from Portland stone by James Woodford and donated to Kew Gardens. These sculptures greet visitors approaching the Palm House main entrance. The White Greyhound of Richmond was a symbol of John of Gaunt, Earl of Richmond, who was the son of Edward III. It was also utilized by Henry IV and especially by Henry VII. The shield on the sculpture displays the Tudor double rose, one rose within another topped with a crown, which signifies the union between York and Lancaster, two of the Plantagenet's cadet houses.