One’s having a clean up - Birmingham's Queen Victoria statue being restored in project
It is an iconic statue which is a landmark for thousands of visitors every year.
And now the Queen Victoria statue, in Birmingham’s Victoria Square, is being restored.
Scaffolding has been erected statue to allow her Highness to be cleaned.
The clean-up project marks the Birmingham Civic Society’s centenary celebrations.
The statue is cared for by Birmingham Museums Trust on behalf of Birmingham City Council.
It has stood in the city centre since 1901 when it was unveiled just 12 days before Queen Victoria’s death.
Originally created in marble by Thomas Brock, the statue was recast in bronze by William Bloye in 1951.
The artwork now requires conservation work to clean and maintain the statue and its pedestal.
The work will not remove green patina which has formed on the statue over time, Birmingham Museums say.
Conservation specialist Ian Clark Restoration will undertake the clean-up work, which is expected to be completed during the week commencing May 14.
Rob Lewis, collections care manager at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “We are pleased to oversee the conservation plans as part of the Civic Society’s centenary celebrations so the statue can continue to play an important part in the city’s history.
“Public art links the city’s past to its present, and the Queen Victoria statue is an important Birmingham artwork that stands proudly in one of the busiest parts of the city.”
