"An Eminent and Munificent Merchant...."

It is difficult to imagine the howls and hoots of derison that would greet a statue like this being put up these days. In the 1870s, with the Gothic revival underway, it seemed like a good idea. Anyway, in all his camp glory, here is Sir William de la Pole, first Lord mayor of Kingston upon Hull. W.D.Keyworth was the man to blame. There's a sycophantic inscription beneath that is too ghastly to repeat (you get a taste from the title of this post). 

This hideousness is close by the vile green Voyage statue on the riverside; I tell you this should you wish to avoid coming across either of them by accident.