A controversial 20-foot nude golden Roman gladiator statue, affectionately nicknamed 'Golden Balls' by locals, has returned to its home in Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester, after being removed three years ago following community complaints. The eye-catching sculpture, which was originally used to promote Russell Crowe's epic movie 'Gladiator' in 2000, was reinstalled at Bulldog Forge earlier this week, sparking excitement among residents who had campaigned for its return.
The beloved statue was first removed on October 11, 2022, when Wigan Council ordered its takedown after receiving numerous complaints from neighbors about its nudity. Grant Adamson, the 60-year-old owner of the vintage shop where the statue stands, decided to bring back the sculpture to spread 'Christmas cheer' after years of requests from heartbroken locals. 'People liked him, he was a bit of fun, you know, Golden Balls, as they called him, became a landmark and it gave them something to laugh about,' Adamson explained.
The statue's removal in 2022 had sparked significant community outrage, leading residents to create Facebook groups and launch petitions demanding its restoration. Adamson revealed that the sculpture had only been displayed for approximately six months before the council demanded its removal, citing complaints about its nudity and the need for proper planning permission. Despite contesting the planning permission requirement, arguing that the statue was on his private property, mobile, and didn't extend beyond his property line, Adamson complied with the council's decision and placed the statue in storage.
During its three-year absence, the golden gladiator had quite an adventure. The statue had previously been a prominent feature outside Titan Flooring Specialists on the Landgate Industrial Estate in 2017. More recently, it spent the summer at Leisure Lakes campsite in the Mere Brow area of Preston, before Adamson arranged with the campsite owners to bring it back to his shop after the summer season ended.
The community's reaction to the statue's return has been overwhelmingly positive, with locals expressing their joy on social media. Comments on Adamson's Facebook announcement included enthusiastic responses such as 'YESSSSSSSS FINALLY GOLDEN BALLS IS HOME LOL' and 'We just drove past... he must be cold.' Other residents shared their excitement, with one saying 'I'll be making a detour on my way home from work on Friday,' while another asked playfully, 'Did he go somewhere nice on holiday?' One grandparent noted, 'Belting my grandkids loved him,' and another resident added, 'Yaaaaay he used to brighten my day!'
Adamson expressed his own delight about the statue's homecoming, saying he was 'made up' when he received the call that the sculpture was on its way back. 'After the year everyone has been through, I hope it gives people a smile. It's good for the business and good for the community,' he stated. The timing of the statue's return proved perfect, coinciding with an open day at CJS Heritage Engineering at Grant's Bulldog Forge on Saturday, November 29.
However, the statue's return may not be permanent. Adamson acknowledged that the council has only granted him permission to display the sculpture for a limited time, though he dreams of making it a permanent fixture. 'If people don't like it, then so be it, it won't be up forever, but a lot of people do. But I'd love to keep him up, as it belongs to the shop and the site,' he explained.
A spokesperson for Wigan Council confirmed they are aware of the statue's return and are currently assessing whether any consent is needed from the council. The spokesperson noted, 'We are aware that a large statue has been brought onto land at Darlington Street East, Ince, and are assessing whether any consent is needed from the council. On a previous occasion, the council advised the landowner that the statue was in need of advertising consent. It was subsequently removed by the landowner before any action was taken.'
