By Wednesday afternoon the centrepiece of Victoria Park, the Victoria Bandstand, will have disappeared packed off to Scotland for repairs.

Erected in 1889 to celebrate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, it is thought that the bandstand may be the last of its kind, but it's condition was deteriorating.

The Corporation of Hamilton wanted to assess the condition of the 109-year-old structure and set out to find experts to examine the landmark, with the project being headed by Corporation of Hamilton parks superintendent Steven Desilva.

"I put a lot of effort into finding the best people," said Mr. Desilva. The result of the search was Charles Laing and Sons, a Scottish restoration company specialising in ironworks.

Andrew Laing, the firm's managing director, said: "They called us and told us they had a bandstand they wanted us to look at in Hamilton. We were thinking Hamilton, Glasgow."

Mr. Laing found the structure in good condition, but with plenty of room for improvement, with two banister segments and a gate missing, along with a damaged column.

"We initially looked at the column and thought it was frost damage, which seemed pretty unlikely," said Mr. Laing. Research lead them to the discovery that prior to the bandstand being erected, it was left laying on it's side for several months as a wave of bad weather struck the Island.

The bandstand, erected in 1889, may very well be the last of it's kind according to Mr. Laing. It was originally built to celebrate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, along with the park itself. Victoria Street was named for the same event.

"We don't have any records of any other of the same design," said Mr. Laing.

Along with the replacement of the barristers and gate and repair work done to the column, the restorations should improve the ceiling of the structure which is designed to work as a loudspeaker.

"You can call it a 100-year check-up," said Mr. Desilva. "It's going to look beautiful."

Workers will dismantle the bandstand by Wednesday before shipping it in pieces to Scotland, where it will be restored and repainted.

"Everything is done in the traditional manner. We're the last of our kind in the UK, if not the world," said Mr. Laing.

The restoration is intended to be completed and the bandstand returned to the park by next April for the Island's 400th anniversary.

"The locals realise the importance of the bandstand," said Mr. Laing. "It's amazing how many people know Bermuda and know this bandstand."

Mr. Desilva added: "We have a big city. It's expanding. The bandstand is ground zero for functions. It's an injection of civility."

The cost of the restoration has not been determined as the amount of work needed is unknown. "We have a worst case scenario, and we're working within that," said Mr. Laing. "This might be unusual to hear on the Island, but it will probably cost less then expected.

"Nowadays, there's not much that you can spend money on that you know is going to last."

In June next year, the bandstand is intended to be used as the location for an awards ceremony for the Tall Ships, which are visiting the Island as part of its 400th anniversary celebrations.

"We're very excited," said Mr. Desilva.