Tower statues to be replaced 'for public safety'

Four deteriorating historic statues on a college tower are due to be replaced over safety concerns.

The sculptures depicting four women on Oxford's Trinity College's west tower represent the subjects of theology, law, medicine and mathematics.

They were created in the 1820s, based on the original quartet placed on the roof in 1694.

A proposal to replace them, which has been given the go-ahead by Oxford City Council, said it was "necessary" to do so within two to three years to "ensure public safety and protect the building fabric".

"After two centuries of exposure, the material of these statues has become severely weathered," it said.

The replacements will be "crafted to replicate the existing figures as closely as possible", it added.

The plans describe how the new figures will be carved by specialist masons using 3D scan data from the existing statues, assembled from stone blocks, and finished by hand to "replicate the classical drapery and attributes of each figure".

There will also be new lighting and a new flagpole, 9.8ft (3m) taller than the current pole, so that flags will be visible from Broad Street when flown at half-mast.

The plans were supported by Historic England and the Oxford Preservation Trust.

The trust said: "Being located at high level, their replacement also addresses the concern of any falling masonry.

"We are pleased that the proposals seek to ensure the existing statues dating from the 1820s are retained and interpreted."

An officer's report said replacing them was an "appropriate response, subject to conditions securing the use of careful working methods".

The existing statues are thought to have been made by Oxford architect John Plowman.

Trinity College put out an appeal in May to track down three of the original statues not seen for more than 200 years.