One Weelsby Woods lion is getting a new face to match its twin, previously restored after damage in 2023.
A car hit one lion in Weelsby Woods during April 2023, severely damaging the statue. These lions have stood there for 70 years, and next year, the pair will turn 150. They are Grimsby’s oldest statues.
People raised money to fix the damaged lion, and Booths Stonemasonry restored it in Lincoln. The repaired lion returned home last year looking as good as new. People noticed the lions did not match after the repair.
North East Lincolnshire Council is funding the other lion’s update. This will make them perfect twins again. A group called Friends of Weelsby Woods shared public concerns and wanted both lions to look alike.
People kept asking if they would fix the other lion. The council agreed to restore the second lion. They partnered with Booths Stonemasonry of Lincoln again, the same company that handled the first lion’s repair.
Friends of Weelsby Woods thanked the council. They are thrilled Paul and Stuart are doing the work and are very grateful for the repairs. The lions are about 149 years old, and they add to Grimsby’s history.
Giving them care ensures their survival, as people of all ages enjoy the statues. In Weelsby Woods, Stuart began the work on Wednesday, measuring the old lion carefully beforehand. Then he removed the lion’s face to replace it.
The lion’s face is now gone, and stonemasons in Lincoln will carve a new one. The statue is covered for safety to protect it from damage. The new face will be carved by Stuart soon, with touch-up work happening on-site later.
People love the lions very much, and updates will be available. The Friends group thanked the council for leading the project. They thanked Booths Stonemasonry, too, for their skills, and appreciate the community’s support.
During the repairs, please respect the workers and give them enough space to do their job. Also, do not take lots of photographs of them. The council stated their reason for remodel is to match the face of the left-hand lion.
This way both lions will look identical again. The same stonemasons return to replace the face and will install the new matching face soon. The process should take several weeks.