The future of a key historic landmark on Ryde seafront has been safeguarded as a major restoration project has now been completed.
The Eastern Gardens arch is an iconic feature of the Esplanade, and it has now been given a new lease of life to protect it from future weather damage and preserve its historic appearance.
This restoration initiative was a joint effort between the Isle of Wight Council and Ryde Town Council, reflecting a shared commitment to protecting and enhancing the town’s heritage assets.
The arch was taken down for repairs on April 23 and was returned to its prominent position on Ryde seafront today (Thursday).
During the restoration, some elements of the arch were carefully stripped back and cleaned before being reattached.
Some sections were too heavily corroded by rust and had to be sensitively refabricated to preserve the structure’s historic character.
The project was delivered by local firm ISM Solutions, with the majority of the work taking place on the Isle of Wight. The galvanising was carried out on the mainland due to a lack of suitable facilities on the Island.
Galvanising helped protect the metal from future weathering, and skilled teams then worked to repaint the arch with a special epoxy finish to restore its appearance and durability.
Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, said: “We are proud to see the Eastern Gardens arch restored to its former glory and to make sure that this much-loved landmark continues to be enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come. We have preserved an important piece of Ryde’s history with this work.
“A project like this shows what we can do when working with town councils like Ryde Town Council, and we have shown once again our shared commitment to protecting the Island’s unique heritage.”
Councillor Karen Lucioni, Ryde mayor and chair of the environment and community protection committee, said: “This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when local partners come together with a shared vision.
“The restoration of the Eastern Gardens arch reflects the strong collaboration between the Isle of Wight Council, Ryde Town Council and local contractors, and the pride our community has in protecting its heritage.”
Will Thomas, managing director at ISM Solutions, said: “It’s a privilege to help restore such an important historic feature to Ryde’s seafront and bring it back to its former glory.
“As a business, we are committed to continual investment to remain at the forefront of our industry.
“For this project, we’re employing modern innovation, using technologies such as 3D scanning and advanced laser cutting.
“This allows us not only to faithfully recreate the original, but also to deliver it in a far more efficient and cost-effective way than would be possible using purely traditional methods.”
Chris Turvey, community planning officer at Ryde Town Council said: “Without the partnership between RTC and IWC, this valuable heritage item could have been lost.”
