Roar-some! Weelsby Woods lions finally reunited after masonry repairs

Originally, the lions were commissioned in 1876 by Tommy Campbell. Sculpted by Richard Winn, the lions sat outside Campbell’s House on Abey Road, Grimsby.

They sat outside his home until 1951 when they arrived to the public shortly after the opening of Weelsby Woods in 1951. The woods were gifted to the borough by Fred Parkes, a Grimsby fishing magnate, donating 150 acres of the estate.

Having stood at the entrance of the park for over 70 years, the lions have welcomed many visitors. Sadly, in 2023, the right hand lion was destroyed and £10,000 was raised by Friends of Weelsby Woods to replace it in March 2024.

However, the pair were not the ‘twins’ they once were. In a bid to bring them back together, North East Lincolnshire Council have funded the repair and restoration of the left hand lion’s head to make them match once more.

With work carried out by Booth’s Stone masonry in Lincoln, the head is now back in its rightful place for all to enjoy. With a few minor works to be carried out now the head is in place, the pair will soon stand identically at the entrance once more.

A spokesperson of Friends of Weelsby Woods, said: “we are honoured to have been part of the lion's journey. We are excited and proud to see them as a pair again, given how iconic they are.

“They have a genuine link to the people of Grimsby with many generations having sat on them since their initial installation. It has been a pleasure to work with NELC, and see the fantastic workmanship of Booths Stonemasonry, and look forward to many more years of the lions both welcoming new generations to Weelsby Woods.”

Councillor Henry Hudson, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Net Zero, said: “It’s great to see the lions match again. It was a travesty when the first was destroyed, but we were elated to see it come back after all the hard work by Paul and his team.

“However, now the pair look even better and we’re thrilled to have been able to do this. A special thank you as well to the Friends of Weelsby Woods for their unwavering support and help in keeping this park as pleasant as it is.”