Four of Reading’s public monuments will form the focus of a new restoration project.
Reading Borough Council is leading the scheme to refresh the Zinzan Chest Tomb, the Simeon Monument, the Jubilee Cross, and the Queen Victoria Statue.
The tomb dates back to 1781 and was built for the ZinZan family of Reading. Situated in Reading Minster’s churchyard, part of its masonry is missing. A barrier has been erected to prevent further damage and vandalism.
Work to the tomb involves stone matching repairs to the white limestone, dismantling the tomb and repairing hard mortar to reinstate it, adding stonework repairs and sharpen the lettering of inscriptions.
The Queen Victoria Statue at the end of Friar Street was sculpted by George Simmonds to commemorate the 50th year of that queen’s reign in 1887. It will be cleaned, and new steel chains fitted around the statue’s base.
The Jubilee Cross in Reading Minster’s Churchyard was also built in 1887 to mark the 50th year of Queen Victoria’s reign. It also commemorates the completion of the restoration of St. Mary’s Church.
Work to the cross involves restoring lead lettering to match the Medieval style of the cross and improvements to its inscriptions, and masonry installation and cleaning work.
Finally, the Simeon Monument was commissioned by Edward Simeon, the director of the Bank of England in 1804.
The obelisk shaped monument originally held lamps to improve the lighting in Market Place.
Work entails cleaning, restoration of its limestone surface and details, and painting the metal railings around the obelisk.
Reading Borough Council’s project to restore the four monuments was approved unanimously by the planning committee when it met on Wednesday, December 7.
Explaining the project, a council planning officer said: “The monuments have fallen into various states of disrepair and require works to restore them to their original condition.”
Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) said: “It’s very exciting. For the town centre, people would really like to see it spiffed up. This is another way of doing this, and it’s fabulous.”
She said the project is part of Reading’s High Street Heritage Action Zone to revitalise the historic buildings in the town centre.
Cllr Simon Robinson (Conservative, Emmer Green) corrected the council’s planning department on the Jubilee Cross, which was built for Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee in the 50th year of her reign, rather than her diamond jubilee, which was celebrated 10 years later in 1897.
Permission for the project was needed as all four monuments are listed by Historic England.
You can view details of the project by typing reference 221520 into the council’s planning portal.
