William Mitchell frieze to be safely removed and relocated

Work is set to get underway next week to meticulously remove the William Mitchell frieze — currently displayed on Barkers Pool House along Burgess Street.

A pre-planning public consultation is currently underway on the future development of this part of the Council’s Heart of the City scheme. Plans for the site include the demolition of Barkers Pool House to make way for a stylish new Radisson Blu hotel, with a planning application expected to be submitted later this summer.

Specialist contractors have been appointed to safely remove the frieze. The removal works are taking place now while the city centre is quieter than usual, which will minimise disruption in the surrounding area. A 3D scan of the frieze has recently been captured, in order to make a record of the artwork in situ.

Once safely removed, the artwork will be securely stored to avoid any potential damage or deterioration. Although an exact city centre location for its reinstallation is still being explored, the new or refurbished buildings on the Block A site, or elsewhere within the Heart of the City scheme, are the Council’s preferred options.