Maiwand Lion

Maiwand Lion is an impressive monument located in Forbury Gardens in Reading. This monumental sculpture of a lion, made of cast iron, weighs as much as 16 tons and measures 31 feet tall, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world.

The monument commemorates the soldiers of the 66th Berkshire Regiment who died during the Battle of Maiwand in 1880 during the Second Afghan-British War.

It is interesting to note that the lion's posture, contrary to local myths, is anatomically correct, as confirmed by experts from the London Zoo. For literature fans, an additional attraction will be the connection between the Battle of Maiwand and the character of Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories.