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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Spring clean for city archangel | Spring clean for city archangel |
| (5 days later) | |
| The figure of the Archangel Michael, which hangs in the shrine of the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle, has been cleaned. | The figure of the Archangel Michael, which hangs in the shrine of the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle, has been cleaned. |
| Conservators have spent a week cleaning the ornate figure of St Michael ahead of Easter weekend. | Conservators have spent a week cleaning the ornate figure of St Michael ahead of Easter weekend. |
| The timber carving, which symbolises hope for mankind's eventual triumph over the evil of war, is suspended from a vaulted ceiling. | The timber carving, which symbolises hope for mankind's eventual triumph over the evil of war, is suspended from a vaulted ceiling. |
| It is 30ft above the casket holding the Scottish War Dead Roll of Honour. | It is 30ft above the casket holding the Scottish War Dead Roll of Honour. |
| Members of the castle's monument conservation unit used hand-held vacuum cleaners, soft brushes and cloths to remove several years' build-up of dust and cobwebs from the archangel. | Members of the castle's monument conservation unit used hand-held vacuum cleaners, soft brushes and cloths to remove several years' build-up of dust and cobwebs from the archangel. |
| It's quite a privilege to be able to get a close-up view of such a wonderful piece of craftsmanship David StorrarHistoric Scotland | It's quite a privilege to be able to get a close-up view of such a wonderful piece of craftsmanship David StorrarHistoric Scotland |
| David Storrar, Historic Scotland regional architect, said the figure of St Michael was magnificent. | David Storrar, Historic Scotland regional architect, said the figure of St Michael was magnificent. |
| He said: "When visitors first go inside and see him soaring above the shrine casket, you can see it sometimes just about takes their breath away. | He said: "When visitors first go inside and see him soaring above the shrine casket, you can see it sometimes just about takes their breath away. |
| "From a care and maintenance point of view the figure is quite a challenge, as we need to put up special scaffolding to reach him. | "From a care and maintenance point of view the figure is quite a challenge, as we need to put up special scaffolding to reach him. |
| "But it's quite a privilege to be able to get a close-up view of such a wonderful piece of craftsmanship." | "But it's quite a privilege to be able to get a close-up view of such a wonderful piece of craftsmanship." |
| The carving, in which the armoured archangel is seen brandishing a sword, is made of Scottish oak and was created by the Clow brothers from a design by Alice Meredith Williams. | The carving, in which the armoured archangel is seen brandishing a sword, is made of Scottish oak and was created by the Clow brothers from a design by Alice Meredith Williams. |
| The figure itself is 11ft tall and the entire carving, which also features a large medallion engraved with a cross, is 17ft tall. | The figure itself is 11ft tall and the entire carving, which also features a large medallion engraved with a cross, is 17ft tall. |
| The Scottish War National Memorial is cared for on behalf of the nation by a charity administered by a board of trustees. | The Scottish War National Memorial is cared for on behalf of the nation by a charity administered by a board of trustees. |
| Col Ian Shepherd, secretary of the trustees, said: "The figure of the Archangel Michael is a tremendously important feature of the memorial. | Col Ian Shepherd, secretary of the trustees, said: "The figure of the Archangel Michael is a tremendously important feature of the memorial. |
| "He personifies the soldier fighting in a just cause, but he does not stand for temporal victories, he is an expression of hope that mankind will one day triumph over war itself." | "He personifies the soldier fighting in a just cause, but he does not stand for temporal victories, he is an expression of hope that mankind will one day triumph over war itself." |