Unveiling of the Seamstress
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Return of the Seamstress marks scheme’s completion
THE LEICESTER Seamstress has returned to her rightful place on Hotel Street – on a new plinth and in a newly paved space.
The bronze statue of an 18th century hosiery worker has been a familiar landmark outside the City Rooms since 1990. But when contractors moved on to the site in March to start laying a new pink granite surface, the statue was carefully removed and put into storage.
“We’ve taken the opportunity to give the statue a bit of a clean and carry out some minor repairs to make sure that the Seamstress is looking her best,” said cabinet member for culture, Cllr Andy Connelly.
“We’ve also given her a new granite plinth, to match her refurbished surroundings, and installed new lighting to illuminate her face at night.”
Pink granite setts have been used to pave the area, with new lighting, litterbins and polished pink granite seating completing the scheme.
Space for a street café outside the City Rooms has also been provided.
A temporary tarmac surface has been laid around the trees in front of the Grade I listed building, but this will be replaced in the New Year by a specialised porous surface that will allow rainwater to reach the trees’ roots.
“What we have on Hotel Street now is an attractive new public space, which gives a beautiful building – the City Rooms – the setting it deserves,” said cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Patrick Kitterick.
Cllr Kitterick unveiled the statue at 5.30pm on Thursday (13th). Members of the public enjoyed some festive entertainment – including a brass band and carol singers.
The refurbishment of the pedestrianised section of Hotel Street is part of the city council’s three-year City Streets project – a public realm improvement programme that will transform many of Leicester’s main shopping streets by the time the new Highcross Leicester development opens in autumn 2008.
For more information about Leicester’s on-going regeneration, visit www.leicester.gov.uk/regeneration
The bronze statue of an 18th century hosiery worker has been a familiar landmark outside the City Rooms since 1990. But when contractors moved on to the site in March to start laying a new pink granite surface, the statue was carefully removed and put into storage.
“We’ve taken the opportunity to give the statue a bit of a clean and carry out some minor repairs to make sure that the Seamstress is looking her best,” said cabinet member for culture, Cllr Andy Connelly.
“We’ve also given her a new granite plinth, to match her refurbished surroundings, and installed new lighting to illuminate her face at night.”
Pink granite setts have been used to pave the area, with new lighting, litterbins and polished pink granite seating completing the scheme.
Space for a street café outside the City Rooms has also been provided.
A temporary tarmac surface has been laid around the trees in front of the Grade I listed building, but this will be replaced in the New Year by a specialised porous surface that will allow rainwater to reach the trees’ roots.
“What we have on Hotel Street now is an attractive new public space, which gives a beautiful building – the City Rooms – the setting it deserves,” said cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Patrick Kitterick.
Cllr Kitterick unveiled the statue at 5.30pm on Thursday (13th). Members of the public enjoyed some festive entertainment – including a brass band and carol singers.
The refurbishment of the pedestrianised section of Hotel Street is part of the city council’s three-year City Streets project – a public realm improvement programme that will transform many of Leicester’s main shopping streets by the time the new Highcross Leicester development opens in autumn 2008.
For more information about Leicester’s on-going regeneration, visit www.leicester.gov.uk/regeneration