Iconic Camberley Elephant turns 50!

Camberley’s celebrated “Concrete Elephant” was created as a float for the Lord Mayor’s Show held in the City of London in November 1963.
It was constructed entirely from standard concrete sewage and drainage pipes made by Trollope and Colls, who were based in Camberley from the 1840s until 1967, when they were taken over.When they closed down, the upkeep of the elephant was written into the tenancy contract, so subsequent businesses have continued to look after it.
The Show that year was organised by the London Master Builders’ Association, whose chairman Lord Mays, was also the Chairman of Trollope and Colls, and an Alderman of the City of London.

The “howdah” on the back of the elephant is in the form of a block of office buildings signifying the firm’s place in the building industry, and for the show the elephant was ridden by a mahout in traditional dress .

After its moment of glory the elephant was erected outside what were then Trollope and Colls premises on London Road. It has since been re-positioned slightly. It has occasionally been redecorated over the years but still stands as one of the town’s most enduring landmarks.

Happy 50th Birthday to this iconic Camberley landmark!