Animal Wall, Grade I listed sculpture wall in Cardiff city centre, United Kingdom.
The Animal Wall is a limestone wall running along the outer edge of Cardiff Castle, decorated with a series of carved stone animal figures. The figures represent a range of animals, from bears and seals to hyenas and wolves.
William Burges designed the wall in 1866 as part of his broader work transforming Cardiff Castle for the Marquess of Bute. The first nine animal figures were carved by Thomas Nicholls in the 1890s, and six more were added later by Alexander Carrick.
The wall displays animals that captured Victorian artists' imagination, including hyenas, wolves, and lions. Today any visitor can observe these stone creatures and study their varied expressions.
The wall sits right on Castle Street in Cardiff city center and is easy to reach on foot from most central points. It is fully outdoors and open to view at any time, with no entry required.
Every animal figure has original glass eyes that have kept their look even as the surrounding paint has worn away over decades. This detail gives each stone creature a presence that is hard to ignore up close.
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