'Three Standing Figures' by Henry Moore and the Grade 2* listed '24th Division War Memorial' have been cleaned in order to preserve them for generations to come.
The sculptures have been slated as needing conservation work and now, in a partnership between the council and The Friends of Battersea Park, the work has been done as Wandsworth celebrates its year as London Borough of Culture.
Henry Moore's Three Standing Figures was created in 1947 and was originally exhibited at the London County Council’s first Open-Air Sculpture Exhibition in Battersea Park in 1948. Donated to the council, it has remained in the park since 1950 and was designated a Grade II listed structure in 1988.
24th Division War Memorial was sculptor Eric Kennington’s first public commission. Unveiled in 1924, it was upgraded to Grade II* listed status in 2005. The work commemorates the service of a division which served on the Western Front in the First World War, which saw more than 10,000 men killed or missing presumed dead.
A report last year revealed extensive discolouration caused by lichen, moss, algae and surface pollution, visually detracting the view of the statues and posing a long-term risk to the stone.
Speaking on behalf of the Trustees of the Friends of Battersea Park, Martin Graham said: “All lichen, moss and fungal growth has been removed using the DOFF steam clean method, ensuring a gentle clean not affecting the stone surface, leaving the surface and stone colour close to the original.”
Kemi Akinola, Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: "We are tremendously lucky to have two important sculptures in Battersea Park and I’m pleased that during our Borough of Culture year we have been able work with the Friends of Battersea Park to carry out this conservation work to enable the public to enjoy this artwork for years to come.”
Other important public art includes the Putney Sculpture Trail, Single Form (Memorial) by Barbara Hepworth in Battersea Park and Robert Clatworthy's The Bull in Roehampton. A bronze statue of the first professional female landscape designer Fanny Wilkinson has also just been installed in Coronation Gardens.
Conservation work has been funded by the Friends of Battersea Park and the council engaged Rupert Harris Conservation to carry out the work.
See the progress of the work on '24th Division War Memorial'
