Photo: © PSSA
Sculptor: Mandy Pratt
Materials: Bronze
Dimensions: h. 1.8m.
Inscription: on pavement in front of statue: Jane Taylor / and / Ann Taylor / Twinkle, twinkle little star, / How I wonder, what you are! / Up above the world so high, / Like a diamond in the sky, / Twinkle , twinkle little star, / How I wonder what you are! / Written in Colchester / in 1806 / by Jane Taylor
Unveiled: 4 May 2024 by four pupils from North Primary School, Colchester.
Jane Taylor
Jane Taylor (1783–1824) was a poet and novelist. In this sculpture entitled Twinkle, Jane, who in 1806 wrote the poem ‘The Star’, is shown walking arm in arm with her sister Ann, gazing up at the night sky and pointing towards a twinkling star. The first verse of this poem became the words of the children’s much-loved nursery-rhyme ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star.’ The sisters, who were both writers, lived in West Stockwell Street in the Dutch Quarter of Colchester from 1796-1810.
The idea for the statue, which is dedicated to the children of the world, came from Sir Bob Russell, High Steward of Colchester, who was also formerly its Member of Parliament
Location: High Street, Colchester, Essex