Edward’s Elephant

Right in the center of Kirkby, in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, stands a 30-foot-tall gray elephant statue. The elephant is wearing earrings, brandishing a poker in its trunk, and standing inside a Viking longship. If you think this is absurd, you’re right: Edward's Elephant was inspired by an Edward Lear nonsense poem. Lear was a British poet and artist in the 1880s who had a local connection to the area.

Knowsley Council commissioned the installation in Kirkby Town Center based on Lear's words: "The Enthusiastic Elephant, who ferried himself across the water with the Kitchen Poker and a New pair of Ear-rings."

Brian Fell and Son Sculpture and Metalwork created the statue, which was installed in 2015. While some locals did not support the installation, it is an impressive piece of artwork that tourists will enjoy.