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| LANDMARK: One of the six griffins, photographed in 2011 |
AN EVENT is taking place this week to celebrate the restoration of a group of historic statues.
Six stone griffins have, for decades, stood guard over a walkway that once led to Yorks Wood Scouts Camp.
In the time since, a housing estate has grown up around them, but the imposing figures have remained a well-known local landmark.
Last year the Yorks Wood Residents' Association received a £10,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to return the statues to their former glory (there had been concerns that the wind and rain had started to damage the stonework.)
To celebrate the successful restoration, the 'Day of the Griffins' event will be taking place tomorrow (Wednesday) from 11am-2pm. Visitors can enjoy games and refreshments.
Griffin History: Local legend has it that the griffins were originally a gift to Britain from the Tsar of Russia. While this has never been confirmed, it's a fact that the creatures once looked out over Birmingham from the roof of Lewis. When the department store was renovated, the statues were shifted from the city centre to Yorks Wood, a stone's throw from Kingshurst. They were originally positioned at the entrance to the Scouts Camp, which finally closed in 1972. A lot of the area was used for council houses, although some of the original wood survived and was later designated a nature reserve by Solihull Council. As for the griffins, they continue to fascinate passers-by in nearby Kendrick Avenue and Horne Way.
To celebrate the successful restoration, the 'Day of the Griffins' event will be taking place tomorrow (Wednesday) from 11am-2pm. Visitors can enjoy games and refreshments.
Griffin History: Local legend has it that the griffins were originally a gift to Britain from the Tsar of Russia. While this has never been confirmed, it's a fact that the creatures once looked out over Birmingham from the roof of Lewis. When the department store was renovated, the statues were shifted from the city centre to Yorks Wood, a stone's throw from Kingshurst. They were originally positioned at the entrance to the Scouts Camp, which finally closed in 1972. A lot of the area was used for council houses, although some of the original wood survived and was later designated a nature reserve by Solihull Council. As for the griffins, they continue to fascinate passers-by in nearby Kendrick Avenue and Horne Way.
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