The stone lions outside Nottingham Council HQ have an unexpected link to Greek mythology

Certain Nottingham landmarks will forever be part of the city’s culture. 

To locals, the Robin Hood Statue and Emett Clock are perhaps two of the most well-known sights in the city. 

These landmarks, amongst many others, also act as a point of reference when meeting up with someone. 

In the days before mobile phones, it was commonplace to wait for a friend at one of the city’s landmarks before an afternoon of shopping or a night out. 

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For many, the most popular of these iconic meeting places is outside the Council House, next to the two large stone lions. 

Over the years, ‘Meet you by the Left Lion!’ has become one of the classic Nottingham sayings. 

As iconic as the lions are, few who use them as a meeting point will be aware of their history, which goes back nearly a century. 

When were the lions installed and who made them? 

Nearly 100 years ago, in the late 1920s, the decision was made to demolish the Nottingham Exchange and build a new headquarters for the Nottingham Corporation. 

In 1927 construction of the new Council House began, with the Neo-Baroque-style building designed by Nottingham-born architect Thomas Cecil Howitt. 

Although the building itself was designed by Howitt, many of the sculptures surrounding the Council House were the work of local sculptor Joseph Else. 

At the time, Else was the principal of the Nottingham School of Art and one of the most respected sculptors in the country. 

Lion, myth, legend!

Between 1927 and 1929, Else worked to design all the carvings surrounding the Council House, which included the two large stone lions. 

When the lions were installed, they were named after Agamemnon (left) and Menelaus (right) two brothers from Greek mythology. 

Agamemnon was a king of Mycenae and Menelaus was a Greek king of Mycenaean Sparta. According to myth both played major roles in the Trojan War.

Over the years the two stone statues have earned alternative names, from Leo and Oscar to Lennie and Ronnie. 

The lions, which weigh around two tonnes each, have become ingrained in Nottingham culture and local brewery Springhead even created a beer called Left Lion. 

Else died in 1955 but his contributions to the city will be remembered for many more years, not least because the Joseph Else Wetherspoons pub was named in his honour. 

*This article has been updated and republished for British Tourism Week.