Chance to get face to face with Victoria

VISITORS will have the chance to meet the team restoring Birmingham’s famous Queen Victoria statue – and the monarch herself.

The special ‘royal visit’ has been organised by Birmingham Civic Society, which has part-funded the conservation work of the Victoria Square statue, currently covered in scaffolding. Visitors will have the chance to meet the conservation team, discover the techniques being using to clean the statue, and find out how the area around it has changed over the past 117 years.

The statue, situated in Victoria Square, is cared for by Birmingham Museums Trust on behalf of Birmingham City Council, and has stood in the city centre since 1901 when it was unveiled just 12 days before Queen Victoria’s death.

Photographs of the conservation work have been captured by Birmingham photographer Philip Singleton, who is developing a body of work entitled ‘The Pause Project’ which explores places that are subject to change or demolition. He is currently mak- ing concrete cast versions of his images and an exhibition featuring a selection of his work will be held at Argentea Gallery in the Jewellery Quarter in June this year.

Originally created in marble by Thomas Brock, the famous Victoria statue was recast in bronze by William Bloye in 1951. The work will not remove the green patina which has formed on the statue over time. The team will complete the work next week.

Civic Society chairman Gavin Orton said: “The Queen Victoria statue is an icon of our city’s heritage, and we are pleased to support this work, ensuring that the statue can be enjoyed for generations to come.

“We just hope Queen Victoria herself will approve of the work. As well as this conservation project, we’ve got lots of other special events and activities taking place across the city, throughout the year to celebrate 100 years of the society.”

The ‘royal visit’ and conservation activities will take place around Victoria Square on Friday (May 11) from 1pm to 3pm.