WHILE ARBROATH might be better known for a declaration than an abdication, a major part of the Angus town’s history relating to King Edward VIII is being restored by a stonemason based in Fife.

Saved for posterity while the town’s former Labour Exchange in Millgate Loan was being demolished, a cornerstone tribute to Edward—who was never actually crowned—is being repaired and cleaned by Glenrothes stonemason George Sweeney Jnr for use in a new development on the same site.

At his factory in Whitehill Industrial Estate, Mr Sweeney has been working closely with the site’s manager, fellow Fifer Garry Wilson, of WMS Limited in Dunfermline, and Paul Mitchell, conservation manager with Angus Council, on the restoration project.

“The stone will eventually be returned to the site which is currently being developed as apartments, when we hope it can become a centrepiece once again,” Mr Sweeney explained.

“We are all delighted that the stone has been saved as we know it is one of very few such references to the king in the United Kingdom.

“Of 161 pillar boxes with the lettering on them countrywide, for instance, our research has revealed that only five remain, including one in Hyndland Road, Glasgow, and another in Desswood Place, Aberdeen.

“So it is all the more important that a stone like this is preserved because of its rarity.”

As Prince of Wales, Edward VIII reigned from January to December 1936 but history remembers him most as the man who fell in love with married American woman Wallis Simpson.

Despite being popular with the people, concern about his private life grew and when Mrs Simpson obtained a divorce it was clear that Edward was determined to marry her.

Edward VIII decided to abdicate the throne in December 1936, eventually becoming Duke of Windsor and marrying Wallis Simpson in a ceremony in France the following year.

Mr Wilson said the stone was originally installed by the town council on the then new Department of Employment premises in Arbroath in 1936, to mark Edward’s accession to the throne.

He added, “Of course, he reigned for less than a year before abdicating and never actually had a coronation. The stone had carefully been inscribed with E VIII R 1936, making it historically inaccurate ever since.

“However, this has simply added to the attraction of the stone which could very easily have been lost forever without the intervention of Paul, George and others.

“We will work closely with the architects to ensure that it will now be restored within the new development which will see 21 flats being erected on the site.”