Brown Dog Statue
the dog that started a riot
A small memorial in Battersea Park to a dog whose death sparked riots and a national battle over animal experiments.
Free to visit · Battersea · Battersea Park · SW11 4NJ
Opening: Park daylight hours
In a leafy corner of Battersea Park stands a modest statue of a small brown dog, marking one of the strangest episodes in London history. The original 1906 memorial commemorated a dog used in controversial laboratory experiments, and its provocative inscription so enraged medical students that it triggered the Brown Dog Riots, with crowds clashing in the streets and police guarding the statue around the clock.
The first statue was eventually removed in secret to end the trouble, and this replacement was put up in 1985. It is free to find, a quiet little monument to a fierce national argument about science, cruelty and conscience that still echoes today.
Getting there: In a quiet corner of Battersea Park, a short walk from Battersea Park station.
Best time to go: A dry day for a walk through Battersea Park.
Insider tip: It is tucked away in the Old English Garden area of the park, so it takes a little hunting to find. Read the inscription for the full provocative story that once had London rioting.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide