The town's most treasured and historic monuments are having a spring clean thanks to Reading’s High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme (HSHAZ).

Conservation repairs began on Monday, February 13 with the Queen Victoria Jubilee Statue by Reading Town Hall, the Jubilee Cross, the Zinzan Tomb in St Mary's Butts and the Simeon Monument in Market Place, all set to be polished up.

The work is being carried out by an expert conservation team, Cliveden Conservation, who also worked to restore, protect and conserve Reading’s Abbey Ruins.

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People passing by these areas of the town centre will notice banners surrounding the monuments while they are being cleaned.

Reading’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward said: “It is wonderful to see the work starting on restoring these four iconic Reading monuments. As with any external statue or monument of some age, they are at the mercy of the weather, and sadly in some cases, vandalism."

The Queen Victoria Statue

Reading Chronicle:

The statue by George Blackall Simonds was erected to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. Simonds also created Maiwand Lion in the Forbury Gardens.

Although the urban myth remains that Queen Victoria had a dislike for Reading, with her statue facing away from the town centre, she never actually visited.

The Grade II listed statue will be cleaned and replacement boundary chains added.

The Jubilee Cross

Reading Chronicle:

This stone cross was erected in St Mary’s churchyard to commemorate restoration work at the church in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

It is Grade II listed. As well as careful cleaning, the original dedication inscription in the leaded gothic script has been lost to erosion and is being restored.

The Zinzan Tomb

Reading Chronicle:

This tomb marks the burial of landowner Dr Peter Zinzan who died in 1781, and his family.

It has significant damage from weather erosion and vandalism and will now be carefully repaired and reassembled.

The Simeon Monument

Reading Chronicle:

This Grade II listed monument was commissioned in 1804 by Edward Simeon, director of the Bank of England, with the aim of improving the lighting of Reading’s Market Place.

The monument will receive a careful clean to enhance its appearance.

Louise Dandy, Historic Places Adviser for Historic England, said: “This is an exciting time for Reading as this restoration work is moving on apace as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone.

"By revitalising the historic character of our monuments and buildings we contribute to people’s pride of place and understanding of the built environment around us all.

"I look forward to seeing these tangible improvements in the town centre which complement the great cultural and community work that is happening around the Oxford Road.”