The Conservation, Repair and Management of War Memorials Guidance and best practice on the understanding, assessment, planning and implementation of conservation work to war memorials as well as their ongoing maintenance and protection. www.english-heritage.org.uk/warmemorials FRONT COVER IMAGES: Top Left: Work in progress: Top Right: This differential staining Bottom Left: High pressure Bottom Right: Detail of repainted touching in lettering to enhance the is typical of exposed bronze steam cleaning (DOFF) to remove lettering; there are small holes in legibility of the names. statuary. Most of the surface has degraded wax, paint and loose the incisions that indicate that this © Humphries & Jones developed a natural patination but corrosion products, prior to was originally lead lettering. In most the original bronze colour is visible patination. cases it is recommended that re- Top Middle: The Hoylake and in protected areas. There is also © Rupert Harris Conservation Ltd lettering should follow the design West Kirby memorial has been staining from bird droppings and and nature of the original but the listed Grade II* for two main water run-off. theft of lead sometimes makes but unconnected reasons: it was © Odgers Conservation repainting an appropriate (and the first commission of Charles Consultants Ltd temporary) solution. Sargeant Jagger and it is also is © Odgers Conservation situated in a dramatic setting at Consultants Ltd the top of Grange Hill overlooking Liverpool Bay. © Peter Jackson-Lee 2008 Contents Summary 4 10 Practical conservation treatment – introduction 40 1 Definition 5 Preparing a method statement 40 2 Best practice 7 Principles of practical conservation 41 Overview 7 11 Practical conservation treatment – repair 42 Role of professionals and volunteers 8 Emergency measures 42 3 History and development of war memorials 9 Structural repair 42 Relocation of memorials 43 Pre-First World War memorials 9 Repointing 43 First World War memorials 9 Consolidation 45 Second World War memorials 12 Surface repair 45 Modern war memorials 12 Replacement 46 4 Legislation 13 Surface treatments 48 Ownership 13 Re-lettering 50 Designation and war memorials 13 12 Practical conservation treatment – cleaning 52 5 The setting of war memorials 16 Reasons for cleaning 52 Cleaning strategy and trials 52 6 Principal materials used in war memorials 17 Cleaning methods 53 Stone 17 Treatment of biological growth on stone, brick Metals 19 and concrete 56 Timber 20 13 Commissioning and undertaking Brick 20 conservation work 57 Concrete 23 Mortars 23 14 Management and maintenance of Other materials 23 war memorials 59 Routine maintenance 59 7 Inscriptions and types of lettering 24 Theft 59 Incised 25 Getting a war memorial listed 60 Incised and painted 25 Incised and gilded 25 15 Funding for war memorials 61 Raised 25 16 Contacts 62 Lead 25 Bronze 26 General advice on war memorials 62 Brass 26 Historical research 62 Conservation professionals and specialist contractors 63 8 Decay, deterioration and damage to war memorials 27 17 References and further reading 64 Structural problems 27 English Heritage 64 Properties of materials and the causes of their decay 28 War Memorials Trust 64 Other publications 64 9 Assessing and recording condition of war memorials 35 Appendix 1: War Memorial Condition Survey template 65 Condition survey 35 Photography 35 Appendix 2: Structural monitoring 38 War Memorials Care Cycle 67 Surroundings 38 Expert advice and analysis 39 Statements of significance 39 3 Summary This guidance is intended for anyone interested in or responsible for the care of war memorials. This might include parish, local and district councils, conservation professionals, contractors, statutory bodies, volunteer groups or private owners. Although the guidance covers the setting of war memorials, more detailed information on landscape issues can be found in the War Memorials Trust publication Conservation and Management of War Memorial Landscapes (2012). When it refers to ‘custodians’, the document is addressing anyone who has taken on formal responsibility for a war memorial, whether or not they are its legal owner. The guidance describes current best practice on the understanding, assessment, planning and implementation of conservation work to memorials as well as their ongoing maintenance and protection. It also outlines the legal frameworks and statutory duties that relate to their ownership and care. War memorials have always had a deep emotional It is only through good stewardship today that resonance with the people of this country. Whether this nation’s war memorials will remain places of on a national, civic or local level, they act as constant remembrance for generations to come. reminders of the ultimate price of war – collective monuments to the many lives lost as well as a means of IMAGES: remembering the names of the individual servicemen 1: Rickerby Park was purchased 2: This memorial in Warlingham, and women who paid that price. as a joint war memorial for the Surrey is one of many thousands counties of Cumberland and erected in public spaces in towns Westmorland. As well as the wider and villages after the First World The majority of war memorials date from the 20th memorial park, a memorial bridge War. This example includes an century, and most of those from the years after the and cenotaph to the fallen of the additional plaque added after the First World War were constructed Second World War. First World War. National and city memorials were within the park. It is listed Grade © Paul Dyer 2013 generally monumental in concept and size but in towns II and is constructed of granite. Above an incised inscription there and villages they tended to be more modest in style. are County, Town and regimental Whatever their appearance, they continue to act as badges; it was unveiled in May 1922. focal points for the commemoration of those killed © Carlisle City Council 2011 and affected by war and as places for reflection on the 1 2 effects of their loss on a community and society as a whole. In addition to their continuing commemorative role, many war memorials are of significant architectural, historic or artistic quality and have become key parts of the historic environment; it is therefore important that their physical condition should be safeguarded for the benefit of future generations as well as our own. Most war memorials have communal sensitivities; their condition and the legibility of their inscriptions will thus be seen by some people as a direct measure of the respect being shown to those commemorated. It is therefore vitally important that plans for their conservation steer a sensitive path between the needs of the structure itself and the wishes of the local community by whom it is valued. 4 1 Definition The War Memorials Trust defines a war memorial as Memorials that are attached to or inside buildings are ‘any physical object created, erected or installed to also included, but complete buildings such as chapels, commemorate those involved in or affected by a conflict hospitals and community halls along with objects such or war’. Although a war memorial might usually be as windows, organs, rolls of honour, flags and seats thought of as a plaque, a freestanding cross or perhaps have been excluded. However, some of the approaches a bronze statue of a soldier on a pedestal, this definition covered in this guidance are still relevant; advice on allows for a vast array of different types. the care of individual artefacts or historic fabric can be found through the Conservation Register (see Section The full range of memorials in the United 16 – Contacts). Kingdom can be seen on War Memorials Online (www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk) as well as researched Official First and Second World War graves and through the Imperial War Museum’s War Memorials cemeteries (and associated memorials within them) Archive (www.iwm.org.uk/warmemorials). A brief come under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth search will show their astonishing diversity, including (formerly Imperial) War Graves Commission, which locomotives, trees, drinking fountains, chapels, windows, was established in 1917; they do not form part of this gardens and complete streets. Many of them were paid advice note. Graves of other types are also not covered; for by public subscription but the fact that they are for advice on their maintenance English Heritage memorials may no longer be immediately apparent; for has published a parallel document Caring for Historic example a large number of churches have either a single Graveyard and Cemetery Monuments ( 2011) . or a complete peal of bells that were either cast or recast as memorials, usually after the First World War. This advice note is directed towards memorials in England and some topics (such as legislation) may be It is not possible within the scope of this guidance to cover specific to England. However, in general, the principles all the different types of memorials, so the focus is on will be relevant to memorials in all parts of the UK. those that are most commonly seen across the country and which are still likely to play a part in ceremonies of remembrance. These include plaques, crosses, obelisks, cenotaphs, sculpture, arches and lych gates. 3 4 IMAGES: Images showing the range of memorial types 3: Gateway, Sherwood. © Paul Sephton 2012 4: Plaque, Acton Trussell. © Clive Gilbert 2011 5 5 6 7 8 6 2 Best practice should always use materials that are suitable in terms of OVERVIEW performance and working properties. No intervention should ever attempt to alter the original intended Deterioration as a result of weathering, structural appearance of the memorial. In general, a temptation to movement or human intervention is an inevitable part restore a memorial to a pristine condition should also of the history of any memorial. Its conservation or be avoided, as the methods needed to achieve it are repair should be a logical process that aims to reduce or likely to be damaging.