The historic statue of Queen Anne which stands over the Market House in Kingston’s Ancient Market Place has recently been regilded following 18 years of wear since it was conserved in 1994.

This statue regilding has always been part of a wider works programme to renovate the Market House and, as scaffolding was installed recently for the renovation works, it was decided that the statue should be regilded at the same time. This also means that the Market House will look its best for the Olympic Games this year, when the Cycling Time Trial event passes through the Market Place on 1 August.

The statue was designed by Frances Bird, whose designs can also be seen at Westminster and St Paul’s Cathedral. It was first erected in 1706 at the Guildhall and was later moved to the front of the Market House building when it was built in 1840.

I am pleased that the Queen Anne statue has been regilded to lift our Ancient Market Place for years to come. The eyes of the world will be on Kingston this summer and it is fantastic that this statue has been renovated along with the Market House to look its best in time for the Olympic events.

says Cllr Rolson Davies, Lead Member with responsibility for Assets at Kingston Council