Times News

Refurbished statue back next week

By Mark Tallentire

9:17am Thursday 2nd September 2010

A LANDMARK statue will return to the North-East next week.

The statue of Lord Londonderry on horseback has undergone an 11-month refurbishment in the London studio of conservator Rupert Harris.

Mr Harris and his team have cleaned and repaired its copper surface, added new stainless steel armature and installed strengthening fibreglass where necessary.

The statue, which had become discoloured, has been restored to its original brown colour and will be reinstated in a new position in Durham City Market Place.

Experts will begin the process of re-siting the statue early next week.

An unveiling ceremony, involving Mr Harris and county councillors Neil Foster, Mac Williams and Mamie Simmons, is planned for Thursday, September 9, at 2pm.

Mr Harris said: “I am absolutely delighted with the results of our months of labour on this piece.

“It’s been a real challenge, but it is truly worth it to see how magnificent it now looks.

“With regular maintenance, there’s no reason the statue shouldn’t stand tall for generations to come.”

Councillor Foster, the county council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “The expert conservation work on this statue is absolutely fascinating and the results are breath-taking.

“The frailty of the bronze and its structure is now replaced with a piece of public art which is both stunning and powerful.

“I have no doubt the statue will be an attraction in its own right. I am really looking forward to seeing how people react when they see how fabulous it now looks.”

The statue’s move across the Market Place is part of regeneration group Durham City Vision’s £5.5m Heart of the City scheme, which also includes changes to the layout, flooring and lighting of the Market Place and to nearby streets.

The statue’s move has been hugely controversial, with more than 6,000 people signing a petition against it.

The Heart of the City project is due for completion in March next year.

Supporters say it will make the Market Place better suited to markets and events and create a proper gateway for the Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site.

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