Heading home: William Wallace statue returns after restoration
The 132-year-old statue of William Wallace has returned to take pride of place at the National Monument in Stirling after undergoing restoration work in England. Structural casting failures on the bronze 14ft figure were fixed during ten weeks of repairs before yesterday’s homecoming.
A statue of William Wallace has returned to Scotland after undergoing restoration work south of the Border.
The 132-year-old statue was welcomed back at the National Monument in Stirling after spending ten weeks in England being repaired. Structural casting failures on the bronze 14ft figure were fixed, with the shield and sword also assessed and repaired. The bronze itself was cleaned to halt decay.
Around £260,000 was invested in the project by Stirling Council to make sure the statue is ready for the Wallace Monument’s 150th anniversary celebrations this September.
Brian Roberts, senior manager for infrastructure at the local authority, described the restoration as a “hugely challenging” project.
He said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the magnificent William Wallace statue has been restored to his former glory and is back home in Stirling for the upcoming National Monument’s 150th anniversary celebrations.”
The restoration work marks the first time the statue was removed from the tower since its unveiling in 1887.