The bronze statue of Captain James Cook R.N. stands on a carved sandstone plinth overlooking the Yorkshire town of Whitby. The statue was commissioned by Sir Gervase Beckett and is one of seven statues cast from the mould by sculptor John Tweed. It was erected in October 1912 and commemorates Cook’s association with Whitby from where he learnt his trade and where he lodged when not at sea.

We were commissioned to undertake a condition survey of the statue and plinth along with undertaking works to be completed in time for 250th celebrations of his first voyage. The survey identified the usual culprit of coastal statues (guano) along with deterioration of the bronze including the dividers held in Cook’s right hand (see image below), oxidation and corrosion of some of the ferrous fixings and deterioration of the lettering and one of the bronze plaques attached to the plinth.

Following an initial clean to remove guano and allow more detailed inspection of the sculpture repair works were undertaken to the bronze prior to repatination trials to determine the appropriate level of colour required to the statue. This was finished with a coat of protective wax.

Works to the base included repointing in appropriate lime base mortars and careful repainting of the lettering to aid interpretation. A replacement bronze plaque was commissioned for the base.