by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Changes have been approved to two key Weymouth seafront structures.
A missing sceptre will be returned to the monarch’s hand at the King’s Statue, thought to have been removed 50 years ago, with new panels approved for the American War Memorial to the east.
A replica of the five- foot rod, topped with a cross, will be securely fitted to the monarch’s right hand, restoring the statue to what it once was.
There has been mystery about what happened to the sceptre which disappeared from the Grade 1 listed statue in the 1960s or 1970s, according to Dorset Council.
The council describes the statue as “an iconic landmark’ on the seafront and says the new sceptre will “enhance the experience for locals and visitors to the town as it makes the statue complete once more.”
The monument was listed in 1953 with the Historic England Listed Buildings Register stating: “The King, in Garter robes, holds the sceptre, in his right hand, and is backed by various insignia, including to his right, the Crown on a cushion, Royal Standard and Union Flag; to his left are a pile of books and a large oval shield of arms.”
It was put in place in 1809 to mark the anniversary of George’s ascension to the throne and is thought to have originally been painted bronze, becoming multi-coloured at around the time of the end of the Second World War.
In a listed building application Dorset Council say the missing sceptre has never been recovered: “The exact reason for the disappearance is not known but trophy hunters are suspected as the horn of the unicorn also went missing at various times until a protective fence was erected around the monument. The application is to replace the sceptre with one matching that shown in the photograph dated 1964 bringing the statue back to what is believed to be original condition. This will serve to enhance the statue and complete its look as currently the right hand is a little ‘lost’.”
The replica sceptre is made from hardwood and coated in gold leaf. No other work is planned to the statue it having been refurbished in March 2019.
Weymouth Cllr Matt Bell proposed accepting the replacement, supported by Cllr Louie O’Leary who seconded the motion on Thursday, adding that he was a staunch monarchist.
The other changes agreed on the seafront by the area planning committee were the addition new plaques to the American War Memorial.
The grade 2 listed building application for changes to the memorial, opposite the Royal Hotel, has been lodged with Dorset Council by Weymouth Town Council.
Some of the plaques on the seaward side have become un-readable due to weathering from the wind and salt spray with some of the lettering no longer visible.
The work will involve replacement plaques to update the three existing worn surfaces.
The memorial, which was unveiled in 1947, commemorates the American servicemen who passed through Weymouth to the beaches of Normandy in the Second World War.
King’s statue. Photo: Trevor Bevins
Weymouth American memorial three plaques to be replaced. Photo: Weymouth Town Council