Landmark sculpture to be restored after appeal

The restoration of a wooden landmark will begin this month after a £3,000 appeal target was met.

A call for help was made to restore the Peterborough Arch at Thorpe Meadows when a condition inspection in 2022 showed the sculpture had extensive damage.

The 4m (13ft) high artwork, carved from iroko wood, had to be removed for safety reasons.

Restoration costs will total £50,000, but grants to the Nene Park Trust from the Henry Moore Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund meant only an additional £3,000 needed to be raised.

The Save Peterborough Arch fund reached its appeal target after it received a £1,000 donation last week.

The money will go towards restoration works, as well the maintenance and development of the city's entire Sculpture Collection.

Sharing the news on Facebook, a spokesperson from the trust said: "Restoration work will begin this month and we hope to see this very special Peterborough landmark back in its rightful place, overlooking Longthorpe Parkway very soon."

The Arch was commissioned by the Peterborough Development Corporation in the 1980s and created by artist Lee Grandjean.

Mr Grandjean, who was deputy head of sculpture at London's Royal College of Art, chose the site to align the sculpture with the city centre and the cathedral.

Matthew Bradbury, chief executive of the trust, previously described the Nene Park Trust "as guardians of the Peterborough Sculpture Collection".

He added it had "an important role to play in restoring and preserving our city's cultural heritage for future generations".

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