16 July 2010
Monument wins City Heritage Award
One of London’s most historic landmarks, the Monument to the
Great Fire of London, has won the annual City Heritage
Award.
This prestigious award, now over 30 years old, is given each
year to the best refurbishment project in the City. Previous
winners include; St Paul’s Cathedral, Temple Bar and St
Bartholomew’s Hospital West Wing.
The City of London Corporation’s restoration project of the
Monument cost £4.5million and included a new viewing platform
balustrade, cage, new telescopes, improved lighting, cleaner
stonework and repairs to the architectural sculpture. The
“flaming” orb was reguilded and real-time panoramic views from the
top are now relayed on a dedicated website.
The plaque was unveiled by The Lord Mayor of the City of London,
Alderman Nick Anstee at a ceremony at the foot of the
Monument. The Lord Mayor said:
“More than 150,000 people visited the Monument each year before
its restoration. Now the numbers are increasing
exponentially. So I am delighted the Monument has won one of
the, if not the, premiere award for conservation and restoration of
good buildings”.
Mr Desmond FitzPatrick, Chairman of the City Heritage Society
said: “This well loved feature of our city, now clean and
beautifully restored, is again as it should be!”
Ends
Notes for editors
About the Monument:
The Monument is open daily from 9.30am – 5.30pm (last admission
5pm). Admission for adults is £3.00, £2.00 for concessions
and £1.00 for children. A combined ticket for the Monument
and Tower Bridge Exhibition costs £8.00 for adults, £5.50 for
concessions and £3.50 for children. For more information call
02076262717 or go to
www.themonument.info
About the City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse
organisation. It supports and promotes the City as the world
leader in international finance and business services and provides
local services and policing for those working in, living in and
visiting the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to
London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and
the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library
and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan Archive; a range of
education provision (including three City Academies); five Thames
bridges (including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the
Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open
spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three
wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port Health
Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow.
It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the
regeneration of surrounding areas and the City Bridge Trust, which
it oversees, donates more than £15m to charity annually.
About the City Heritage Society
The City Heritage Society’s remit is to preserve and improve the
amenities of the City of London for the public benefit, by
stimulating interest in its history, promoting good architecture
and planning and by protecting, preserving and improving its
buildings, open spaces and other features of beauty, or historical
or public interest. For further information on the City
Heritage Society please call Mr Desmond FitzPatrick on Tel:
01798345281
Press enquiries
Fiona Milligan, Press Office, City of London Corporation.
Tel: 020 7332 3451 / Mobile: 07900244200.
Email:
fiona.milligan@cityoflondon.gov.uk