Calls made to repair damaged Spalding War Memorial
The damage and disrepair of a nationally significant war memorial has been described as disappointing ‘considering what it represents and who it honours’.
The Grade I war memorial in Spalding’s Ayscoughfee Gardens, which was designed by the Cenotaph architect, Sir Edwin Lutyns, to honour the men who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the First World War.
The last work on the memorial was five years ago and now with the passing of time the wording has faded, and a natural patina makes some of the names illegible or hard to read.
Damage to the base of the pillars, cracks and parts peeling off litters the garden, spoiling the area in front of the memorial.
A pre-application for funding to restore the memorial has been submitted by South Holland District Council with an outcome by the autumn.
Daniel Dean, a former member of the armed services, last visited the gardens in the 1970s but was horrified to see the state of the memorial recently.
He said: “I was really disappointed to see the general disrepair of the memorial that appears to have been allowed to occur. Surely for such well-maintained gardens a touch of the same care, repair and maintenance could and should be given to the memorial.
“Especially considering what it represents and who it honours.”
The pillars on the pavilion have damage to them with paint peeling away and cracking.
Coun Mark Le Sage said: “It is important in making sure the memorial is cared for and restored.
“It needs to be kept in better condition – children enthusiastically get involved with Remembrance Sunday in honour of the ultimate sacrifice war veterans made for our way of life.”
Jan Whitbourn, vice chair or Spalding Royal British Legion, said: “So many people come to the parade in November, these boys, they notice it and look at it and it is quite sad to see it in disrepair.
“It is a big project to restore it so hopefully there is funding to restore it properly.
“We need to preserve the old buildings around Spalding.”
A spokesperson from South Holland District Council said work had last been done on the memorial in 2018.
He said: “Due to the Grade I listed nature of the memorial, we have to be very careful about the works carried out, which includes bringing in suitable experts that have experience working with historic buildings and monuments such as this.
“We have put in a pre-application for funding that we are currently waiting for a decision on, and hope to hear more by early September.
“We are also working with the funders to ensure that any renovations are carried out correctly and safely, to ensure the Memorial remains for many generations to come.”
Coun Elizabeth Sneath, heritage champion, said: "The national importance of the Spalding war memorial means it will need very careful and specialised restoration.
“Historic England made the decision to relist it from Grade II to Grade I in 2015 when all of Sir Edwin Lutyens War Memorials were designated as a recognised National Collection.
“Lutyens was a distinguished architect, who designed the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the memorials in the British War Cemeteries in France and Flanders.
"The Spalding memorial commemorates the 224 local lives lost during the First World War and was unveiled on 8th June 1922, costing £3,500. It was paid for with donations from the widow and family of the Town MP, Francis Maclaren, who was killed in a flying accident during the war and by public subscription.
