Vital restoration work on the 132-year-old William Wallace statue - which towers over the entrance to the world-famous monument honouring the Scottish hero - is underway.

The bronze 14ft figure of Wallace will be carefully dismantled in sections and removed from the iconic landmark in Stirling for the first time since it was unveiled in 1887.

It will then undergo specialist restoration off site before being returning to take pride of place on the popular attraction ahead of its 150th anniversary celebrations in September.

The cost of this challenging project is estimated to be £260,000 and will be completed over the next 10 weeks.

The work will involve:

• repairs to the structural casting failures on the statue

• cleaning, stabilisation and re-patination of the bronze to halt decay

• cleaning out the internals of the statue

• designing and inserting a new armature (skeleton)

• assessing and repairing the shield and sword.

The painstaking, expert work forms part of the overall restoration project at the National Wallace Monument, which is being funded by Stirling Council and is expected to total £515,000. 

The Monument was last year prioritised for restoration works by the Council and Stirling District Tourism – an independent charity which manages and operates the Monument – following a building and condition survey.

Stirling Council Leader Scott Farmer said: "We agreed this investment at a Full Council meeting to safeguard the future of the National Wallace Monument, which is one of Scotland's most iconic landmarks and one of Stirling's most popular attractions.

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"These essential repairs to the stunning statue of Wallace are hugely challenging and complex, but they will ensure this unique, global attraction is back in peak condition for the Monument's 150th anniversary celebrations and for years to come."

Stirling Council Deputy Leader Danny Gibson said: "It was critical we intervened as a Council to preserve this iconic statue, which is one of the first sights thousands of visitors see when they arrive at the Monument entrance.  

"I am delighted we are now progressing with the restoration and I'm looking forward to seeing the statue once it has been returned to its former glory."

The William Wallace statue was created by renowned Edinburgh sculptor David Watson Stephenson and was added to the Monument in 1887.

Prior to work commencing, specialists used the latest technology to analyse its condition, guiding how they would perform the intricate task of its removal and restoration.

This included an x-ray survey, an endoscopic survey and ultrasonic thickness-mapping. A sample was also taken of the casting bronze to identify a match for repair metal and brazing wire.

Jim Mitchell, Conservation Engineer at Industrial Heritage Consulting based in Straad on the Isle of Bute, is the project engineer.

He said: "It is a privilege to be involved in such a prestigious and challenging project. The decision to dismantle in situ has been proved correct as we have found around 500kgs of sand and other fill inside the statue. This was done to deliberately add weight. 

"All of that must be carefully removed before the rest is lifted, due to the fragile nature of the bronze. We are looking forward to examining this massive bronze in the workshop, to better understand the sculptor's approach."

Zillah Jamieson, Chair of Stirling District Tourism, the charity that operates The National Wallace Monument said: "2019 is such an exciting time for The National Wallace Monument. During its 150th anniversary year, not only will the bronze statue of William Wallace be fully restored and returned to its home in the corbelled niche in the south-west corner of the Monument, facing the battlesite of Stirling Bridge, but the Monument will also be undergoing a transformation of its own.

"With the support of public donations and admission fees, Stirling District Tourism is investing over £600,000 in upgrading the Monument's exhibition galleries, which will tell the story of William Wallace in dynamic new ways, to engage all visitors.

"The Monument will close on the 11th of February while this work is under way, and will re-open in the spring with an exciting new look. A series of new events have also been planned throughout the year, as well as two thrilling large-scale public celebrations which will take place in September."

The 220ft high Wallace Monument is one of Scotland's most popular landmarks, attracting 140,000 visitors a year.

Designed by Glasgow architect John Thomas Rochead, it was constructed between 1861 and 1869 at a cost of £18,000.