An Alien Tripod rules in Woking, Surrey.

In 1998, Woking celebrated the centenary of "War of the Worlds" by erecting this statue of a Tripod inspired by the book.

Created by Michael Condron, it is intended as as a tribute to the book's author, H. G. Wells.


















Woking, which is located 23 miles (37 km) south west of Charing Cross in central London, it is the town in which the Martians first land in the science fiction classic, wreaking havoc from their three-legged machines.

And while those fictional Martians fell victim to our microbial defenders, they are not forgotten. Today, this twenty-three-feet-high alien invader rules triumphantly over the town centre - where the first alien capsule can also be found, half buried in the square.

Despite its ominous appearance, we are assured that it it perfectly safe - or perhaps that is because no one has survived long enough to complain.