City Heritage award for Monument

The Monument, the iconic landmark which commemorates the Great Fire of London, has won this year’s City Heritage Award, following in the footsteps of St Paul’s Cathedral, Temple Bar and St Bartholomew’s Hospital West Wing. The annual award is given to the best refurbishment project in the City.

In February last year the Monument re-opened after a £4.5 million restoration project which included the installation of a new viewing platform balustrade and cage, new telescopes as well as improved lighting, cleaner stonework and repairs to the architecture sculpture. In addition the ‘flaming’ orb which symbolises the Great Fire was regilded.

A plaque commemorating the award was unveiled earlier today by Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Nick Anste.

During the unveiling ceremony 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 which works to preserve and improve the amenities of the City of London for the public benefit, said: “This well loved feature of our city, now clean and beautifully restored, is again as it should be!”

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