Beatles statue, Pier Head

The Beatles Statue stands on the Pier Head in Liverpool, near Brunswick Street and Canada Boulevard. It is a group of four bronze figures larger than life, showing Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon walking together. The statues were made by sculptor Andy Edwards and unveiled on 4 December 2015 by the deputy mayor and John Lennon’s sister Julia Baird. They were modelled on a photograph taken at the same spot in 1963. Each figure carries a personal detail that links to the band’s history. McCartney holds a camera in tribute to his wife Linda, a photographer. Harrison wears a belt with a Sanskrit inscription about the infinite light of wisdom. Ringo’s right shoe has a postal code from the area where he grew up, and he stands slightly apart, reflecting his place behind the drum kit. Lennon’s right hand holds two acorns cast from seeds collected near the Dakota building in New York. Visitors find the statues set against the Mersey waterfront, close to the river and the city’s maritime buildings. The figures face towards the water, as if ready to step into the street. The Pier Head is a busy place with ferries and landmarks nearby, so the monument sits among the everyday life of Liverpool. The bronze surfaces catch the light at different times of day, making the group appear to move.