Iconic Thomas Telford statue to be re-painted in its original colours - with video

The Thomas Telford Sign in Telford Square will be restored to its former glory as part of a £100,000 package of improvements.

When it was originally unveiled, the bronze and iron statue was painted but weather over the last 30 years has seen all traces of the original work stripped away.

The letters T and l and the full stop at the end were painted black and edged in light grey, with the letters E, F, O, R and D painted light grey and edged in black.

Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for conservation and heritage, said: “Thomas Telford had a huge impact on the county’s infrastructure and architecture. Our town is named after him. Wherever you see Telford mentioned, you are more than likely going to see the sculpture of Thomas Telford.

“It is an iconic artwork and we are pleased and proud to oversee its conservation, and the refurbishment of the surrounding square, as part of Telford’s 50th celebrations and legacy.”

Specialist contractors are using a power washer to wash away the grime that has built up over time. Once cleaned up, the statue will be restored to its former glory and painted in black and grey – as it was on the day of its unveiling.

The block paving and brickwork around the statue will also be rejuvenated.

What work is being done?

Work to clean the statue and Telford Square is expected to be completed by July 22. The next phase will see the statue repainted and the water features brought back to life.

The area, known locally as The Courts, is being restored as part of the Telford50 legacy fund.

Water features in the area will be brought back to life, the sculpture will be cleaned, benches and bins will be refurbished and street lighting will be improved.

There will also be general landscaping including weeding and repairs to the pavement.

It comes following a public consultation on the anniversary, where almost 1,400 people had their say on what should be done for the celebrations.

Many said they wanted to see Telford Square spruced up as the area was looking tired and the statue a little weather-worn.

The council said part of the issue had been that it has a number of different landowners.

The work on Telford Square is being funded from the Council’s £2m Telford50 legacy fund which is supporting a range of schemes across the borough.

The legacy fund supports a mix of physical schemes as well as other projects that help tackle key social issues in the borough and reduce demand on Council services. For more information about Telford 50 visit telford50.co.uk

Money has been put aside to restore several community buildings as part of the legacy fund, to help tackle homelessness, to install lighting on the Iron Bridge and to protect green spaces across the borough.

A 50-mile walking trail route was opened and playground equipment at Telford Town Park was replaced or restored.