Nice clean dress

Queen Victoria was sculpted by a local stone-cutter who otherwise specialised in tombstones. It gives her a certain beautifully monumental quality, I think.

I have always admired her, and particularly her carefully damasked dress, but it can't be denied that it - and (if it's not lèse-majesté) she - had got a little grubby over the twentieth century.

The town council decided that it was time for her to have a wash and brush up..

This led to some discussion, and the beautiful statement "Nobody's taking a brillo pad to Queen Victoria!"

No-one did.

And here she is - her clean clothes flagged for the world to admire - ruling in the rain.

We have a clean Queen.