Charles II is next in line for renovation

FOR more than 300 years it has kept watch over the comings and goings in the Capital's Parliament Square - so it's long-overdue some pampering.

The statue of Charles II on horseback dates back to 1685 and is the oldest statue in the city - and the oldest equestrian lead statue in the UK.

Believed to be the work of the Dutch sculptor Grinling Gibbons, it is now set to be removed from it's historic perch to undergo vital restoration work to prevent it from collapsing.

The work is the latest instalment of the on-going Twelve Monuments Restoration Project, a joint initiative by Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh World Heritage.

The monument is made of lead, but has an internal skeleton made from oak and mild steel. Over time this has deteriorated, putting stress on the statue and causing cracks in the lead.

It underwent an endoscopic survey by a specialist lead conservator in May to assess internal water penetration and retention.

The "keyhole" technique was essential to investigate whether parts of the interior are filled or void, and to reveal the design and positioning of the supporting structure and its condition.

It was found that the internal framework had become so degraded that the statue was in danger of collapse.

Councillor Ron Cairns, vice convenor of the culture and leisure committee, said: "By restoring this majestic statue to its former glory, we will be preserving an Edinburgh landmark for future generations."

After a painstaking process to remove it safely from its plinth, the Charles II statue is set to be transported to the Rochester studio of Hall Conservation Ltd.

There it will be carefully taken apart and rebuilt, supported by a new internal stainless steel frame. The lead will be cleaned and missing parts such as the sword and scabbard replaced, modelled on a similar statue at Windsor Castle.

Adam Wilkinson, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage said: "The statue of Charles II is utterly beguiling, far from the pomposity of his father's statue in Trafalgar Square in London.

"This is the monarch of a different kind of a nation, following the trauma and upheaval of the Commonwealth, seeking calm authority.

"Statuary is one of the aspects of the World Heritage Site that is easily forgotten, yet it plays an important part in creating the drama of some of our public spaces."

The work - which is estimated to cost around 100,000 - is being funded by the Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh World Heritage, along with donations from the Scottish Court Service, the High Constables of Edinburgh and many private donors.

The conservation work is expected to take six months, with the statue returned to its former glory in spring 2011.