Lord Hill Statue Refurbishment: Works Now Underway
Getting Started on Site
We’re pleased to share that the scaffolding is now complete around the Lord Hill statue, marking the official start of our conservation works on this important historic monument. With full access now in place, our team has already begun the first specialist tasks.
Careful Removal of the Sword and Right Hand
One of the first steps has been the safe removal of the statue’s wooden right hand and the sword it holds. This delicate process involved unbolting the hand at the wrist and carefully cutting free the sword where its tip is anchored into the base.
The hand will be conserved and recast in a more durable material, while the sword has been taken back to our workshop to be sandblasted, repaired, and repainted before being reinstated securely later in the project.
DOFF Cleaning to Reveal the Statue
At the same time, our team has begun DOFF cleaning the statue’s surfaces. This gentle, steam-based method removes layers of paint and biological growth without damaging the render beneath. Cleaning is currently being carried out on:
The entire statue (paint removal)
The base of the column, from the plinth to the square base of the walkway — including the lions
The surrounding paving slabs.
This stage is crucial, as it reveals the true condition of the render and prepares the surfaces for the careful repairs to follow.
Next Steps
With the scaffolding, cleaning, and removals completed, we will move on to:
Repairing hairline cracks and fissures with keim repair morters.
Preparing moulds and replacement casts for a new left arm and right hand.
Re-rendering the statue’s base for long-term stability
Every stage of this work is being delivered to the highest conservation standards, ensuring the Lord Hill statue is preserved with care and respect for future generations.
🏛 Fun Fact about Lord Hill’s Column
Did you know that Lord Hill’s Column in Shrewsbury is actually taller than Nelson’s Column in London? Standing at 133 feet (40.5 metres), it’s the tallest Doric column in the world and has watched over Shrewsbury since 1816.