FAMOUS LONDON STATUE

Evening Star, Issue 20076, 17 January 1929, Page 4

FAMOUS LONDON STATUE

EFFIGY OF GOOD QUEEN BESS REGOLOUFtED John Evelyn,_ the diarist, walking “ with extraordinary difficulty, clambering over heaps of yot smoking ruubish and frequently mistaking whore I was.” thus took stuck of the havoc wiought hy the Great Eire of London. *• Sir Thomas Gre.ssham s statue, he wrote under date of September ", 113(3(5, li tiio’ fallen from its nich m the IB.val Exchange, remained intirc. when all' those of the Kings since Iho Conquest were broken I<> pieces; also the Standard in Cornhill and (1. Eh/.abeth’s effigy, with some armes on ludgato, continued with hut little detnment.” , , , , „.| Afucli water has (lowed under Thames Bridge since that day, and much smoke has issued from London chimneys; consequently Queen Elizabeth’s effigy, removed to a niche over the vestry dour 0 f (|,p Church ol St. Dunstan m the West, Fleet street, after Ludgate was demolished in 1700. lias long shown signs of contact with London grime, while audacious pigeons have ncstcH behind her crowned and haughty head. Londoners will, however, soon behold this contemporary picture of the Virgin Queen emerge in its old-time glory, wlier. Dame Milliccnt Fawcett will perform the unveiling ceremony. Dm-iim- a denning of the effigy, which was rendered possible by the generosity of Tlamo Fawcett, Miss Garrett, Miss Gwen Joliii, and Miss Jones, traces of the original colour were discovered. Tinder expert direction these hues have been deftly restored. The Queen’s lace has been tinted a flesl; colour, and her crown, orb, ami seept'e regilt Hoi farthingale ami corsage are coloured while. The work has been carried out with the- utmost delicacy (writes a. 1 Daily Chronicle ’ representative, who had a glimpse of th finished result, and the effigy now discloses quite unexpected beauty and richness.