General Stanisław Maczek — Bronisław Krzysztof
Bronze by Bronisław Krzysztof, 2018 · City Chambers, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland
Photo: Exiled Englishman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (camera date 30 October 2022), the same photo as in the Street Art Utopia post. Full photograph shown.
Polish sculptor Bronisław Krzysztof’s bronze seats General Stanisław Maczek, the wartime commander of the 1st Polish Armoured Division who made Edinburgh his home, on a bench in the courtyard of the City Chambers off the Royal Mile. dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 · Scottish Parliament motion S5M-14508, 2 Nov 2018 · The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 Checked It was unveiled on 3 November 2018, the end of a public appeal begun by the late Lord Fraser of Carmyllie that raised £85,000. Polskie Radio 24, 3 Nov 2018 · The Courier, 5 Nov 2018 · The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 Checked
5 things to know
- A bench, not a pedestalAfter the ceremony the general’s son, Andrew Maczek, said he was moved to find he could sit beside his father, and that the modest general would never have agreed to be set up on a stone. dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 Checked
- £85,000 from many donorsThe memorial cost about £85,000, covered mostly by private donations, with £18,000 from the Polish government through its Edinburgh consulate and £5,000 from a former Maczek soldier living in Australia. dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 · The Courier, 5 Nov 2018 Checked
- Lord Fraser’s idea, finished by his familyLord Fraser of Carmyllie learned Maczek’s story at the general’s 1994 funeral, where he represented the UK government; after Fraser died in 2013 his wife Lady Fiona, daughter Katie and friends completed the appeal. The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 · dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 Checked
- Planned for the MeadowsThe bench was first meant for the Meadows, near the family home in Arden Street, Marchmont; a path there became General Maczek Walk instead, unveiled in 2019. The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 · Polonika (Polish heritage institute) Checked
- Unveiled with one of his soldiersLady Fiona Fraser and veteran Zbigniew Mieczkowski, who served in Maczek’s 1st Polish Armoured Division, unveiled the statue before several hundred guests, among them the general’s son. The Courier, 5 Nov 2018 · dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 Checked
Where it is
- 📍
- In the north-east corner of the quadrangle of the City Chambers, the City of Edinburgh Council’s building on the High Street, part of the Royal Mile. Wikipedia: Edinburgh City Chambers · The Courier, 5 Nov 2018 · Edinburgh Evening News, 19 Feb 2018 Checked
- 🪧
- A bronze plaque on the wall beside the bench, added in 2019, honours Maczek, “Baca”, and his troops. The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 · Polonika (Polish heritage institute) Checked
- 🌳
- A separate memorial, General Maczek Walk, is a signposted path in the Meadows. The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 · Polonika (Polish heritage institute) Checked
Sightings
- 201819 Feb
Courtyard site announced · Edinburgh Evening News
- 20183 Nov
Unveiling report · Polskie Radio
- 20197 Oct
Plaque added, campaign concluded · The Herald
- 202230 Oct
Photographed in place (camera date) · Wikimedia Commons
Every stamp links to its source. The green stamp is a dated photograph of the statue in place: our photo, with the camera date 30 October 2022. The amber stamps are other evidence: the February 2018 announcement of the courtyard site, the report on the 3 November 2018 unveiling and the 2019 report on the added plaque. Google Street View images near the courtyard date from August 2018, before the unveiling, so they cannot show it.
On the record
W Edynburgu odsłonięto pomnik gen. Stanisława Maczka
“Serce drgnęło, gdy zobaczyłem ojca, że mogę usiąść koło niego. To było bardzo niezwykłe. (…) On by nie chciał być (na piedestale); gdyby go postawić na jakimś kamieniu, to by się na to nie zgodził”
English: “My heart leapt when I saw my father, that I can sit next to him. It was very unusual. (…) He wouldn’t have wanted to be (on a pedestal); if you had put him on some stone, he would not have agreed to it.” Andrew Maczek, the general’s son, after the unveiling.
Polish wartime hero Gen. Stanisław Maczek was honoured in city he made his home
“He was a quiet hero who lived longer in Edinburgh than anywhere else, including his native Poland”
Archie Mackay, a trustee of the General Maczek Memorial Trust, when the plaque was installed.
Motion S5M-14508: Statue of General Stanislaw Maczek
“the statue, which has been created by the accomplished Polish sculptor, Bronislaw Krzysztof, will help to highlight this hugely interesting man’s links to Scotland and his pivotal role in fighting the Nazis.”
From the motion lodged by John Mason MSP the day before the unveiling.
The facts
- Title
- No formal title found; the bench backrest reads “Generał Stanisław Maczek 1892–1994”, and the Scottish Parliament calls it the statue of General Stanislaw Maczek. Scottish Parliament motion S5M-14508, 2 Nov 2018 · Wikimedia Commons, photo 30 Oct 2022 Checked
- Artist
- Bronisław Krzysztof, Polish sculptor (spelled Bronislaw in English sources). Bronisław Krzysztof, artist’s site · Scottish Parliament motion S5M-14508, 2 Nov 2018 · Wikipedia: Edinburgh City Chambers · dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 Checked
- Unveiled
- 3 November 2018. Polskie Radio 24, 3 Nov 2018 · dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 · Bronisław Krzysztof, artist’s site · Scottish Parliament motion S5M-14508, 2 Nov 2018 Checked
- Place
- North-east corner of the City Chambers quadrangle, High Street (Royal Mile), Edinburgh, Scotland; the 2022 photo’s camera position is 55.95010, −3.19043. Wikipedia: Edinburgh City Chambers · The Courier, 5 Nov 2018 · Wikimedia Commons, photo 30 Oct 2022 Checked
- Medium
- Bronze figure of the general seated on a bench, with a bronze plaque on the wall beside it (added 2019). dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 · The Courier, 5 Nov 2018 · The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 Checked
- Size
- Life-size, as announced before the unveiling. Edinburgh Evening News, 19 Feb 2018 Reported
- Commissioner
- The General Stanislaw Maczek Memorial Trust, continuing Lord Fraser of Carmyllie’s appeal, supported by the Polish Consulate General in Edinburgh and the KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation. Bronisław Krzysztof, artist’s site · dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 · The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 Checked
- Cost
- About £85,000 from a public appeal, including £18,000 from the Polish government. dzieje.pl (PAP), 3 Nov 2018 · The Courier, 5 Nov 2018 · The Herald via British Poles, 7 Oct 2019 Checked
- Status
- Seen on 30 October 2022 (camera date); we found no newer dated picture. Google Street View nearby dates from August 2018, before the unveiling. Wikimedia Commons, photo 30 Oct 2022 Checked
- Our photo
- By Exiled Englishman on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, camera date 30 October 2022. Wikimedia Commons, photo 30 Oct 2022 Checked
Related
- There’s Room on the Bench (13 Photos): the SAU collection of statues sitting on public benches, with General Maczek
All sources (11)
Official
- Scottish Parliament: motion S5M-14508 “Statue of General Stanislaw Maczek”, lodged by John Mason MSP, 2 November 2018. Bronze statue to be unveiled on the Royal Mile on 3 November 2018, created by Bronislaw Krzysztof.
- Polonika: “Śladami generała Stanisława Maczka w Edynburgu”, Marta Panas-Goworska and Andrzej Goworski, National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad, undated. Krzysztof as designer; £85,000 raised; first planned for the Meadows; the two plaques.
Press
- Edinburgh Evening News: “Edinburgh statue will honour Polish war hero General Stanislaw Maczek”, 19 February 2018. A life-size bronze of the general on a bench to be placed in the City Chambers courtyard.
- Polskie Radio 24: “W Edynburgu upamiętniono generała Stanisława Maczka. „To wyjątkowy pomnik””, Adam Dąbrowski (IAR), 3 November 2018. Bench unveiled in the City Chambers courtyard near the Royal Mile.
- dzieje.pl: “W Edynburgu odsłonięto pomnik gen. Stanisława Maczka”, Jakub Krupa (PAP), 3 November 2018. Bronze bench unveiled; about £85,000 cost; £18,000 from the Polish consulate; Andrew Maczek’s words.
- The Courier: “Statue of WWII Polish hero unveiled by Lady Fraser”, Jim Millar, 5 November 2018. Unveiled by Lady Fiona Fraser and Zbigniew Mieczkowski; £85,000 appeal; sculptor Bronislaw Krzysztof.
- British Poles: “Polish wartime hero Gen. Stanisław Maczek was honoured in city he made his home”, Brian Donnelly, first published by The Herald, 7 October 2019. Plaque and General Maczek Walk complete the campaign; Lord Fraser’s appeal.
Artist
- Bronisław Krzysztof: News, the sculptor’s own site. Unveiled 3 November 2018 in front of the City Chambers; supported by the Memorial Trust, the Polish Consulate General and the KGHM Polska Miedź Foundation.
Reference
- Wikipedia: “Edinburgh City Chambers”, consulted 20 October 2026. The bronze in the north-east corner of the quadrangle, unveiled 2018, by Bronislaw Krzysztof.
Photos
- Wikimedia Commons: “General Stanislaw Maczek Bench.jpg”, Exiled Englishman, CC BY-SA 4.0, camera date 30 October 2022. Our hero photo.
Street Art Utopia
- Street Art Utopia: “There’s Room on the Bench (13 Photos)”, 20 October 2026. The SAU post with this work.
Artwork File · Last checked 20 October 2026 · Certainty labels follow How We Verify Art · All Artwork Files