A full restoration of the bronze Edward VII monument in Whitworth Park has been completed.
First unveiled in October 1913, the statue was created by local sculptor John Cassidy, whose original tools are still kept inside Manchester Town Hall.
The restoration of Edward VII is part of a wider programme organised by Manchester City galleries, to care and conserve Manchester's public and war memorials portfolio.
Edward VII was in particularly poor condition and was in danger of irreversible damage so the decision was taken to perform an in-depth conservation/restoration of the statue.
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Arts & Leisure at Manchester City Council said: "We are fortunate to have such a rich heritage here in Manchester, and the preservation of our historical monuments and memorials is essential for the benefit of the city and future generations."
Stefan Strittmatter, The Programme Manager for Public Art and War Memorials, has headed the conservation efforts of Edward VII. In addition specialist portrait sculptor, Tom Murphy has been commissioned to create the missing features of the original bronze figure based on images of John Cassidy's original clay-figure and period drawings sent from the Tower of London. The conservation team have ensured the use of the exact material composition for replacement castings, by conducting analysis of alloy samples of the original sculpture at Manchester University's Materials Science department. Once cast, the additions have been aged and fitted to the monument using original methods.
Other improvements have included treatment of the metal surface to combat corrosion, the recasting and hand finishing of the lead lettering, the removal of graffiti from the plinth and the application of protective treatments to act against further graffiti, weather conditions etc.
Manchester city galleries are now in the process of systematically reviving the appearance and longevity of other monuments throughout Manchester.
Media contact:
Claire Keegan, tel: 0161 234 4014.