Jonathan Kenworthy was still a student when he carved the Whittington Cat. [Jonathan Kenworthy]

THE artist behind the famous Whittington Cat sculpture has called on the council to fix the carving after it fell into disrepair – even offering to create a new statue “for free”.

Jonathan Kenworthy was still a student when he carved the famous Whittington Cat sculpture that sits on top of the Whittington Stone on Highgate Hill.

A student at the Royal Academy at the time, Mr Kenworthy created the sculpture from a block of black Irish limestone after becoming the youngest artist ever to win the prestigious Royal Academy Gold Medal.

“I got the stone over and carved it for them – it was very simple really. It was a jolly good idea – everyone knew about Dick Whittington in my generation, he was one of those iconic characters in history,” Mr Kenworthy told the Tribune.

The limestone was polished to a high shine and placed on top of the Whittington Stone in 1964. According to local legend, the stone marks the exact spot where Dick Whittington heard the Bow Bells ring out: “Turn again, Dick Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London.”

The Whittington Cat today. [Islington Tribune]

The cat did not stay intact for long. Shortly after it was finished someone climbed the fence and broke an ear off, then someone else did the same, Mr Kenworthy said. It would need two new ears and it would need re-polishing, he added. “I can’t do that now. I’m about to be 80 and I have a very bad right hand which I can still model with, but for stone carving isn’t very good.”

Mr Kenworthy, who now casts his sculptures in bronze, has offered to re-make the Whittington Cat for free – as long as the council covers the foundry costs.

“I would do it for free.I am very sentimental about it.”

Mr Kenworthy, who now lives in Leatherhead in Surrey, said he had seen the photos of the cat in its current state. “It looks a mess to me – they’re going to have to do something about it.”

He said the cat should be preserved because it has become a “touchstone” for people visiting Whittington hospital. “I understand people go and touch it for luck when they go into the hospital,” he said.

Francis Wilkinson of the Highgate Society has been leading the project to restore the “rather lovely stone cat” after its poor state was highlighted by a Pearly King.

“It’s such a wonderful idea to have a brand ­new undamageable monument, rather than just repairing the one that’s there. It’s replacing it with something superior,” Mr Wilkinson said.

The council says the cat sculpture was listed, along with the Whittington Stone, in 1972, although the Highgate Society disputes this. Mr Wilkinson maintains it is only the Whittington Stone that is protected.

Mr Wilkinson said the council must give “a good reason for not accepting Jonathan Kenworthy’s offer”, and said the Highgate Society would like to see a bronze sculpture cast and put in place “if Historic England can agree to it – if they can’t, the existing sculpture should be repaired,” he said.

A spokesperson for Islington Council said: “We’re committed to protecting and preserving Islington’s much-loved historical landmarks, including the Whittington Stone.

“We know that the cat sculpture is well-loved by residents across our borough, and is often stroked as a good luck charm ahead of hospital visits.

“We’re grateful to Mr Kenworthy for his very generous offer to create a new cat statue. However, given the Whittington Stone’s listed status, it is unlikely that the council would be able to secure the consent necessary for this work to go ahead.

“The council will continue to work with Mr Kenworthy and the Highgate Society on how we can best conserve and restore the existing statue.”