Skip to content
What's New
Site Map
Search
A-Z Services
Website Help
Complaints
Enquiries
Feedback
Access key details

23 May 2012

The Concrete Elephant

Concrete Elephant being TransportedCamberley's celebrated "Concrete Elephant was created as a float for the Lord Mayor's Show held in the City of London in November 1963. It was constructed entirely from standard concrete sewage and drainage pipes made by Trollope and Colls, who were based in Camberley from the 1840s until 1967, when they were taken over. The Show that year was organised by the London Master Builders' Association, whose chairman Lord Mays, was also the Chairman of Trollope and Colls, and an Alderman of the City of London.

Camberley's Concrete Elephant The "howdah" on the back of the elephant is in the form of a block of office buildings signifying the firm's place in the building industry, and for the show the elephant was ridden by a mahout in traditional dress .

After its moment of glory the elephant was erected outside what were then Trollope and Colls premises on London Road. It has since been re-positioned slightly. It has occasionally been redecorated over the years but still stands as one of the town's most enduring landmarks.


Expand footer to view Surrey local services website links and more
Collapse footer