Time and the elements, traffic fumes and bird droppings had taken their toll on artist Adrian Jones’ masterpiece depicting four horses – representing the forces of chaos and war – being calmed by the angel of peace. Called Quadriga and erected on the Arch in 1912, it is Europe’s largest bronze sculpture.

High up above Hyde Park Corner and hidden behind scaffolding, conservators have cleaned the sculpture of years of dirt, grease and grime. Action has been taken to remedy corrosion, flaws, cracks and damage where rain has penetrated the sculpture. The next phase of the project, currently taking place, is to apply – with the help of blowtorches – several coats of clear wax, protecting the sculpture from future wear and tear.

Kate Mavor, English Heritage’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re giving one of London’s most dramatic sculptures the tender loving care it deserves. Our conservation work will mean that people can enjoy this great work of art for years to come.”

Olivier Juglair, Cif Global Head of Marketing said: “Cif’s social purpose is to restore the beauty of the man-made world. When things are cleaned to reveal their original beauty, they have a positive impact on the people around them; so we’re always looking for people and organisations that share our values to help us do it. Like Cif, English Heritage is restoring the nation’s most-loved buildings and landmarks for us all to enjoy!”

Wellington Arch was built in 1825–7 and proclaims the first Duke of Wellington victories over Napoleon. A controversial equestrian statue of the duke was placed on top of the arch in 1846 but this was taken down in the 1880s when the arch was moved.

In 1891 the artist and sculptor Adrian Jones (1845–1938), a former army veterinary captain who specialised in animal figures, exhibited a plaster group at the Royal Academy of a quadriga, a four-horse chariot. The Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, suggested that it would make a suitable adornment for the rebuilt Wellington Arch.

In 1908 Jones set to work on a full-size plaster version in his Chelsea studio. The giant horses, angel, chariot and boy charioteer were cast in bronze; each horse being made in seven figures. The arch was given a new roof with steel girders to support the Quadriga, and the sculpture was erected in January 1912.

Supported by the household cleaning expert Cif, the conservation of the Quadriga sculpture is the first project in the ‘Making England Shine’ programme which will see several English Heritage sites conserved over the next three years.

Wellington Arch with its exhibition on the Battle of Waterloo and balconies with views of the Royal Parks and the Houses of Parliament remains open to visitors. The work is scheduled to last until the end of the month when the scaffolding will come down and Adrian Jones’ masterpiece – repaired and protected for generations to come – will be revealed once more to the public.

Bronze Conservation

Bronze sculpture is generally coloured (patinated) by the artist, after leaving the foundry. Traditionally, the colour is applied by use of chemical patination mixtures, which can provide a wide range of colours. However, after installation and the resulting exposure to the elements and pollution, the surface of the bronze will slowly begin to corrode, producing the green patina, often referred to as verdigris.

This natural green patina will, with time, form a semi-protective layer over the surface of the bronze. Rather than it causing harm, as is often thought, regular and careful maintenance of this naturally formed patina, will prevent further decay of the bronze surface.

On this project, English Heritage has taken the decision not to re-patinate the areas of natural green patina back to the original deep brown colour, but rather to let some of this beautiful green come through, adding another layer of depth and interest to this magnificent sculpture.

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Cif’s – one of the world’s leading cleaning brands from Unilever - purpose is to make the world more beautiful. Cif does that in the home, through products that clean beautifully, so people can make their homes a better reflection of themselves. Cif believes that it can do it in cities, too. By restoring iconic buildings and landmarks that give communities their sense of purpose and belonging.

Wellington Arch, one of London’s best-known landmarks, was built in 1825–7 and was originally intended as an outer entrance to Buckingham Palace. At first it stood directly south of Piccadilly, facing the Hyde Park Screen; it was only moved to its present position in the 1880s to allow for road widening. Its original design was never completed, and a controversial equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington was erected on top of it in 1846. This was taken down in the 1880s when the arch was moved, eventually being replaced in 1911–12 with the quadriga sculpture that crowns it today.

Over the past century, the arch has held various uses, including as park-keeper’s residence and even a police station, believed to be the smallest in London. Its setting was again altered in an attempt to relieve traffic congestion with the creation of the present Hyde Park Corner roundabout in 1960–62, when the Edwardian gates to either side of the arch were removed, and it was cut off from Constitution Hill on the new traffic island.

In 1999 the arch was transferred to the care of English Heritage. Major repairs and refurbishment were carried out and in 2001 the arch was opened to the public. Today it is home to two exhibitions, one on the story of the arch the other the story of the Battle of Waterloo. The balconies just below the Quadriga offer glorious panoramas over the Royal Parks and the Houses of Parliament.