The Maiwand Lion
This majestic sculpture of a lion can be found in Forbury Gardens in Reading.
It’s one of the world’s largest cast iron statues of a lion and weighs 16 tons!
The Maiwand Lion was constructed to commemorate soldiers who died in the Battle of Maiwand.
The Battle of Maiwand took place in July 1880 and was one of the main battles of the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
Afghan forces defeated a small British force. Many lives were lost on both sides, an estimated 2,000 to 2,750 Afghan troops and 1,200 British troops.
At the front of the sculpture you will see the names of those who died in the Battle.
Another Reading connection is that The Maiwand lion was sculpted by George Blackall Simonds, who was a member of the Reading H&G Simonds brewing family.
Where is the Maiwand Lion
26 The Forbury, Reading, England, RG1 3EJ
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