Conserving War Memorials Case Study: Cleaning

The Cheltenham War Memorial is the main location for commemoration in the Borough. It is remarkable for the number and layout of its inscriptions, and the extraordinary quality and precision of the lettering. Factors such as civic pride and the need for commemoration by the general public meant that Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) ensured that the memorial – particularly the inscriptions – were cleaned regularly. As with many memorials, this regular cleaning caused damage to the surface of the stone, resulting in the stone getting dirty more quickly and encouraging microbiological growth. This case study describes the most recent conservation project which involved the cleaning and delicate repair of the inscriptions. The project also considered how to break the cycle of repeated cleaning, to ensure that the inscriptions are retained for future generations.

This guidance is intended for those designing, specifying and undertaking conservation and repair work to free standing war memorials, such as architects, building surveyors, structural engineers, project managers, contractors, craftspeople, and conservators. It will also be of interest to those responsible for making decisions, such as local authority conservation officers, custodians or volunteer groups. It also indicates where to get further help and advice.

This guidance forms part of a series of resources produced by Historic England, to coincide with the centenary of the First World War. This series covers the overall approach to caring for these memorials, as well as some of the more poorly understood technical aspects. It includes:

• guidance on how to record, repair, conserve, maintain and protect these unique monuments for future generations: The Conservation, Repair and Management of War Memorials and Conservation and Management of War Memorial Landscapes
• short technical advice notes covering inscriptions, structural problems and repairs and maintenance
• case studies on conservation options for specific war memorial issues
• films on technical aspects of war memorial conservation