Works recently completed at the Royal Victoria Park in Bath are the reinstatement of metal gates, conservation work to the very rare Coade Stone Lions, recreating new lamps, and conservation work to the Great War Memorial itself.

The gates were melted down as part of Britain's war effort. Now the historic gates at Victoria Park have been recreated and officially opened.

A total of 18 gates, painted in green and with gilt decoration, have returned to Royal Victoria Park after a period of 66 years since they were removed. The new gates are identical, as near as is possible, to the originals which were once used to control access to the park.

The gates were taken down in October 1942 as part of a national drive for iron and steel as the country was desperately short of raw materials. Most of the funding for this renovation programme has come from a Heritage Lottery grant with contributions from Property Services.

Property Services administered the tendering of the contracts and assisted in the contract preparation and partial funding of specialist items.

Marks on the stone pillars of the gateways yielded more evidence and finding a gate in Bathwick Hill which appeared to have come from the same foundry confirmed other research and helped complete the jigsaw.

At the end of last year the two stone lions on either side of the Queen's Gate were restored, removing corroding feramenta supports and ill-conceived past repairs, and waxed to their original bronze lustre. 

The lions have now been reinstated, and replicas of the original lanterns were put up.  Other improvements have included the replacement of lost perimeter railings with hand-forged replicas, the planting of thousands of shrubs and the restoration of the bandstand and Royal Crescent ha-ha wall.  The Lions, gates, and War Memorial act in unity as the principle entrance to the park.