Perth’s Mercat Cross is to be renovated by Perth and Kinross Council.
Scaffolding went up around the structure, outside the city’s St John’s Shopping Centre, on Tuesday afternoon.
The octagonal-shaped cross was designed in 1913 as a memorial to King Edward VII. It is understood that a number of improvements will be carried out over the next two weeks.
Repairs will be made to one of the steps, which is uneven. Workers will lift it completely before relaying it to prevent the step becoming a trip hazard.
The wooden door which backs on to the shopping centre will be replaced and some loose stones on the memorial will be removed to prevent them from falling.
Contractors will also clean the monument to make it more presentable. Perth’s Mercat Cross structures have had a hard time over the past four centuries.
The original pillar was torn down by Cromwell in 1651 but it was rebuilt on the High Street at the very end of the 17th Century, in 1699, where it stood for more than 60 years.
Workmen broke the column when it was removed as an obstruction to the traffic in the High Street in 1763 or 1765.
It was then moved to Fingask Castle, having been sold for £5 2s 6d.
Belatedly, Perth magistrates and the town council passed an Act in 1765 for “the taking down of the Mercat Cross”.
An annual wreath-laying ceremony is held at the latest monument in November.
Perth city centre councillor Peter Barrett welcomed the work.
He said: “I’m happy to see a historic monument in the city centre being refurbished and restored to its former glory.
“I think it’s important to preserve our heritage. I am pleased that the council is showing the monument a bit more love and tenderness now, compared to our predecessors two and a half centuries ago.”
His colleague Heather Stewart added: “I am delighted that they are going to do it up because it’s an integral part of Perth City.
“In the past, it’s got a bit dilapidated. It’s a focal point in Perth and is used on Remembrance Day for the laying of poppies, and things like that, so it’s wonderful to see it being cleaned up.”
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “We are carrying out general maintenance on the monument.”