New Triton statue unveiled

The new statue, made by Stephen Pettifer, was taken from the mould of a previous commission by Lady Rothermere and is one of four in existence. Before being taken away for conservation work, the old Triton had taken pride of place in the middle of the fountain outside the Radcliffe Infirmary building for more than 150 years.

‘We are pleased with the new statue and it is a great replacement for the original Triton,’ said Isobel Hughes of Oxford University Estates Services.

‘The old statue needed urgent conservation because of some major cracks which meant it could no longer be exposed to the elements. When this work is completed we will keep Triton inside St Luke’s Chapel on the Radcliffe Observatory Site initially, before finding him a permanent home.’

The Radcliffe Humanities building has been fully refurbished and will be officially opened on 22 October. The building will be occupied by the Humanities Divisional Office, the Faculty of Philosophy, and the Philosophy and Theology Libraries.