A statue of King Edward VII will return to Birmingham city centre this week after an absence of almost 60 years following major restoration work.
The statue, dedicated to the much-loved monarch following his death in 1910, will be installed on a plinth in Centenary Square on Wednesday.
It’s new location is outside Baskerville House, near the statues local sculptor Albert Toft made for the Hall of Memory.
The statue was removed from its former location in Highgate Park in July 2009 and has undergone restoration work costing £114,000.
City culture chief Martin Mullaney 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.”
The statue was commissioned by the Birmingham Post’s sister paper the Birmingham Mail in 1910 to commemorate the death of King Edward VII.
Readers raised £5,000 for a memorial fund. Everyone in Birmingham was given the day off work when the statue was unveiled in Victoria Square in 1913.
But it was moved to Highgate Park in 1951 when Victoria Square was remodelled and has since suffered at the hands of vandals.
During the 1980s thieves removed three bronze sculptures from the plinth.
The statue was removed from Highgate Park last year for cleaning and repair and new bronze casts.
The relocation project is being funded by the city council, with £10,000 from Targetfollow, the owners of Baskerville House.
