Six years and six months after Sheffield businessman Jim Hurley set off on a mission to restore one of Sheffield\'s most visible and historic landmarks, the Cholera Monument, the Duke of Norfolk was the special guest at a ceremony to rededicate the monument.

Oldham restoration specialists Maysand were instrumental in the completion of the work that in 1997 Sheffield City Council had optimistically estimated would cost £5,000. The final bill was £384,000.

But if it had not been for Jim Hurley, the monument might well not exist today.

The Cholera Monument was originally erected in 1834 in memory of the 402 victims of the epidemic that had swept through the city two years earlier.

It is a 22m tall stone obelisk featuring female figures (representing Faith, Hope and Charity) set in niches on each of the three faces. Sadly, by the 1990s, the monument was in ruins.

Jim Hurley is the chairman of office refurbishment company Sheffield Integrated Systems (SIS). He says: "SIS have always tried to put something back into the community and have been involved in a number of charitable projects over the years."

The seeds of the Cholera Monument project were sown in 1997. Plans to rebuild the monument were mooted by Sheffield City Council and Jim decided it was something SIS could get involved with.

He recalls: "By this stage the pieces of the monument were lost. Eventually, after a bit of detective work, we found them in two different places, a wood and a nursery. Thankfully, 99% of the original stone was recovered."

"Sheffield Airport said we could place the stone there for safekeeping until restoration work could be funded and begin."

The project was funded by sponsors from the business world and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Mick Foulds and Richard Wisbey from Maysand have masterminded the restoration job. Mick says: "It was a fascinating project to work on and an unusual one because we are used to dealing with more conventional structures.

"It also involved plenty of research. The original stone selected for the monument itself was Rivelin Glen Gritstone. This stone is no longer quarried, so an analysis test was undertaken to find a suitable compatible alternative match."The result came up with Catcastle Buff from Dunhouse Quarries, Cumbria, which we had already put forward as an alternative for approval."

Being so slender, building ties had to be placed in the monument. These had to be buried deep below the surface (5m).

Dorset sculptor Mike Chapman was also enlisted for the project. He produced the three statues of Faith, Hope and Charity from Hartham Park Bath limestone to replace the faded originals.

Jim is delighted with the results. "Maysand have produced a very professional job and I am delighted with the way the project has gone."

"