Birmingham sculptor Albert Toft’s statue of King Edward VII is returning to the city centre next week after an absence of almost 60 years.
Following the completion of a 15-month restoration project, the Grade II listed statue has been restored to its former glory.
And it will be moved to a new home in Centenary Square on Wednesday November 3.
Commissioned by the Birmingham Mail in 1910 to commemorate the death of the monarch, the statue was unveiled in Victoria Square in April 1913.
It was moved to Highgate Park when Victoria Square was remodelled in 1951 but repeatedly suffered at the hands of vandals.
That prompted the city centre switch and, following consultation with the Victorian Society, Birmingham Civic Society and a range of other stakeholders, a new location outside Baskerville House in Centenary Square was chosen. The site is particularly appropriate given that Toft produced the figures on the nearby Hall of Memory.
The statue was removed from Highgate Park in July 2009 for cleaning and repair and new bronzes cast to replace ones that were stolen in the 1980s.
The £114,000 renovation and relocation project was funded by the City Council, s106 planning gain contributions together with a £10,000 contribution from Targetfollow, the owners of Baskerville House.
Cllr Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport & Culture, said: “This is a welcome return to Birmingham city centre for a superb piece of sculpture.
“Toft’s statue of Kind Edward VII deserves to be seen and enjoyed by the maximum number of people and I’m particularly pleased that the move has gained unanimous support from a whole host of organisations and individuals.
“Now fully restored, I’m delighted that the statue can take pride of place in Centenary Square.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- The statue is scheduled to arrive at Centenary Square at around 7am on Wednesday November 3.
- Albert Toft (1862-1949) designed a number of monuments, notably the Welsh National Memorial in Cardiff, the Royal London Fusiliers Monument in Holborn.
- In Birmingham he designed the South Africa Memorial in Cannon Hill Park, the King Edward Memorial and four bronze statues at the Hall of Memory, representing the three armed services and the women’s services.
- He produced three Queen Victoria memorials, in Nottingham, Leamington and South Shields.
For further information contact Geoff Coleman on 0121 303 3501
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