A Liverpool legend has been returned to her rightful place on Mathew Street.
Recent visitors to the tourist hotspot will have noticed a glaring omission along the iconic walkway in recent months. This is because the bronze statue of Cilla Black was removed and a barrier was placed over where it once stood.
Following her passing in 2015, the statue was commissioned by her sons and installed outside of The Cavern Club on Mathew Street in 2017. But last year the statue was removed and its site cordoned off - much to the disappointment of some tourists visiting the city.
READ MORE: Street Style on Bold Street
At the time it was understood that the statue was taken away for maintenance. A few weeks ago a spokesperson for Liverpool city council confirmed that the statue had been removed so repairs can be carried out.
This was arranged by her family, according to the council. However no confirmation was provided of when the statue would return.
New pictures show the statue has now been returned to its original location outside of the Cavern Club. While the statue has been returned, repair works are still ongoing on the brickwork it sits on top of.
A barrier still remains in place in front of the statue while the works are completed. When returned, the statue was dressed with flowers draped around Cilla’s neck.
Mathew Street is perhaps best known for being the springboard for four of Liverpool’s most famous sons, but it also was where Cilla Black launched her glittering career. Cilla started out working in the cloakroom of the former Cavern Club and, like The Beatles, started to perform on its iconic basement stage.
The performances paved the way for a hugely successful run in showbusiness, working as a singer, presenter and entertainer. Cilla's eldest son Robert Willis, along with brothers Ben and Jack, commissioned the statue – which is one-and-a-fifth life size – as a thank you to Liverpool for the support they received after the entertainer's death in August 2015.
