Lost landmark pub statue set for restoration

A landmark statue, which once graced the front of a pub, has been located after going missing for years.

The Old General used to stand in the window of the pub of the same name, in Radford Road in Hyson Green, Nottingham, but was boxed up after the establishment closed in 2016.

Despite promises for its future, the statue went missing but was tracked down to the backyard of a nearby charity shop.

Local brewery Castle Rock has now moved it to one of their pubs and is looking for someone to help with its restoration.

The figure is of a Nottingham character called Benjamin Mayo.

Despite his nickname, he had no military background but was known as a simple man who wandered the streets selling news sheets and pamphlets.

He had malformed legs and was reputed to be only about 4ft (1.2m) in height.

He was believed to be 64 years old when he died in 1843.

The statue was carved towards the end of the 19th Century, as the pub was built, and installed in its window shortly after.

The statue has now been moved to the Vat and Fiddle pub, close to Nottingham railway station.

Andrew Ludlow, secretary of Nottingham CAMRA, said he was pleased the statue had been found.

"He was iconic because at Christmas he was dressed up and had snow put around him," he said.

"You always knew it was Christmas when the fairy lights went up, and it was something really special.

"It was horrible when we knew he was going to go because the pub was being demolished.

"But now he is back where he should be, in a licensed premises, and he is going to be well looked after."

Colin Wilde, the managing director of Castle Rock brewery, said: "It was too good an opportunity to turn down, even though he was quite a logistical challenge to crane it here.

"Our plans are to give it a tidy up, as it hasn't been treated well over the past few years.

"So we are reaching out to local artists, student, or community groups to give it a new coat of paint, a new set of clothes as it were.

"It is very important locally, and he will go on display and maybe get dressed up for special occasions."

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.