Alfred Russel Wallace Sculpture

Hertford Civic Society commissioned the Wallace memorial, found on the side of Hertford Theatre (BEAM) to commemorate the work of Hertford resident Alfred Russel Wallace.

ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE 1823-1913

Hertford Civic Society played a leading role in the commissioning of the sculpture of Alfred Russel Wallace on the outside of Hertford’s BEAM Theatre. 

Wallace, one of the great scientists of the nineteenth century, grew up in Hertford and was educated at the grammar school, now Richard Hale. Alongside Darwin, he developed the theory of evolution by natural selection. The two men actually presented their key papers at the same scientific gathering in London. The better-off Darwin went on to write his crucial book, On the Origin of Species. Wallace headed back to East Asia, to continue earning his living collecting birds and other natural specimens, which he sent back to Britain to be sold to museums and private collectors. 

In 2013, the bicentenary of the birth of Wallace, Hertford Civic Society persuaded East Herts Council that Wallace deserved to be commemorated with a sculpture on the outside of the theatre. We provided more of the organisational muscle needed to hold an international competition, while the Council provided more of the funding and, of course, wall space at the theatre (which it owns). The winner of this competition was Rodney Munday, a local sculptor who, like Wallace, was educated at Richard Hale. 

The finished work shows Wallace reaching out to grasp a bird of paradise. Rodney Munday presents just the upper body of Wallace. The design hints, perhaps, at a slightly birdlike person.  See what you think. You can easily take a close-up look for yourself as it’s only just out of hand's reach. 

The sculpture can be found on the outside wall of the theatre, just round the corner from the main entrance, and facing the side of Wetherspoons. Another way to see it is by walking down Maidenhead Street towards the theatre: it rises nicely above the fancy railings of Hertford Castle. 

Wallace didn’t just help to nail evolution, he also also identified the Wallace Line, an imaginary feature running through Indonesia indicating the sharp division between Asian and Australasian species. And his own classic book, Travels in the Malay Archipelago, has never gone out of print.
Wallace is someone truly worth remembering.