Victoria Square is the centre of Birmingham. It is the point from which road distances are measured. Previously called Council House Square, it was renamed Victoria Square in 1901 after the death of Queen Victoria. It was redeveloped in 1993, and was opened by Princess Diana on the 16th of May that year.
The water feature in the centre of the square is called The River, and is reputed to be one of the largest fountains in Europe. The two statues in the bottom pool represent youth.
The statue in the top pool, which represents life force, has been nicknamed 'The Floozie in the Jacuzzi' by the locals.
Carved around the rim of the top pool is a quotation from T.S. Elliot's poem, Burnt Norton.
And the pool was filled with water out of sunlight, And the lotos rose, quietly, quietly,
The surface glittered out of heart of light,
And they were behind us, reflected in the pool.
Then a cloud passed, and the pool was empty.
What beautiful words!
