A REPLICA of Evesham’s famous whalebone arch has been unveiled in the town’s riverside Workman Gardens.

The new arch stands in the same spot as the original whalebone arch did for more than a century, up until last year, when due to years of weathering and flooding, they were too frail to remain in place.

The jawbones of a Bowhead whale are now on display in the Evesham Hotel but Wychavon District Council decided to re-install the historic link with the arch which is synonymous with the town by installing the replica.

A metal arch designed and created by Steven Cooper, a Pershore ironworker and farrier, is the same size as the original jaw bones.

“A carving from oak of a Bowhead whale, designed and carved by Tom Harvey, is underneath the arch, which was installed by PD Hughes.

The original jawbones came from an extended whaling expedition to the Arctic by Andrew Marvel in 1819.

Ten whales were caught and the jaws of one whale caught in 1820 were sent by a Mr Stanton to his friend Dr Copper, who lived at the manor house now known as the Evesham Hotel, as a gift.

In 1906 Dr Cooper’s granddaughters donated the bones and they were put in Workman Gardens.

Lynn Stevens, parks officer at Wychavon, said: “The bones managed to survive floods, weather and the elements for over 100 years, helped by periodic infilling when bits fell off and coating with protective sealer.

“Some fairly major work was done to them in 2004/5 when they were taken down and later re-erected in the new position to the east of the central oak tree.

“It was with sadness that they were removed from Workman Gardens.

“We’re so pleased to be officially launching these two pieces of artwork and hope that these more robust creations will provide a lasting memory for future generations.

It is a wonderful asset to the park.”