Not all monuments are equal

Part of the problem is one of finance. Unfortunately, money is always required for the repair, renovation and cleaning of historic structures. Large buildings can cost a small fortune to maintain and those responsible are often fighting a losing battle to find the income necessary.

A further issue is that methods for cleaning and renovating structures have often been relatively poor. Cleaning systems have often used strong, abrasive methods to try and get past the layers of dirt and pollution that afflict many of the country's favourite buildings and monuments.

Such methods often bring short-term success but hide longer term damage. Abrasive cleaning can have a great immediate effect, seeming to restore a building to its former glory.

The problems generally emerge at a later stage, when it becomes clear that the cleaning process may have set a pattern of erosion in place. Stone monuments can soon begin to lose their original character.

A range of UK based companies have looked improve the methods used in cleaning buildings and monuments. By tackling the cleaning process using environmentally friendly processes that are gentle on the fabric of the structures, it's becoming possible to clean monuments without damaging them.

The key is to look to use non-abrasive methods. Cleaning specialists have been able to restore a number of the country's monuments, ensuring that they look good now and that they will continue to be available for future generations.

It's to be hoped that local councils look to make use of such contractors. Cleaning monuments correctly is vital - failure to do so may lead to the loss of some of our favourite structures.

Next time you walk past a monument, take a closer look. There's a revolution going on in the world of monument cleaning that is slowly starting to bring about improved results.