Warrington Cenotaph.... move or leave ?

[algy]

After finding out it cost £20K (If this is the correct figure) to paint Oliver Cromwell I'm having second thoughts regarding the re-siting of the Cenotaph, just imagine the cost! also the damage that would result to the masonry when separating the wall and column joints could be irreparable and may result in total replacement and lets be honest judging by what has happened with some of our other treasured listed buildings in our town in the past do we trust any council to carry out the task successfully?.

[Dizzy]

I must admit Algy I've been thinking much the same.  Like you say it would cost a fortune to move as it would need specialists and even then there's no saying it would be successful and look the same when all the stone slabs were put back together even if non were damaged.

To me the risk seems to great and when you think about it it was built at a time when the close family members of all those brave souls who fell in WW1 and WW2 were all still alive and those family members would have seen it being built, felt proud,  gone along to see it unveiled and without doubt sat there for many hours together on that exact spot grieving for their loved ones who had been taken so cruely  

Sorry... I was getting a bit deep there but I suddenly imagined them all there all those years ago and it suddenly seems wrong to move it.  If it did get damaged in a move or had to be totally replaced for whatever reason then that would be tragic and to me quite disrespectful.

There's nothing to stop the council building a new area of remembrance say at Bank Park where people of today can visit all year round that is more easily accessible and quieter.  It would cost far less and they could have duplicate plaques with ALL the names of everyone in Warrington who fell and lost their lives. 

When I say ALL I mean adding all the other names which appear on other smaller cenotaphs and memorials around the town and in churches etc etc.  Many of those are not on the main Bridge Foot memorial wall and dotted about everywhere in their own parishes and it's very hard to see them whenever you like or indeed to know where they are or who is named on them all.   

I;m not saying any of those should be moved but to me it would be so lovely to have one NEW central place where everyone is named and they can all be remembered and seen together.
 

[wolfie]

I;m not saying any of those should be moved but to me it would be so lovely to have one NEW central place where everyone is named and they can all be remembered and seen together.

 

Something like this Diz, just 7 miles up the road in Widnes.

 

[Dizzy]

No not quite what I meant when I said a new area for daily remembrance and visits as something that big would detract from, and be too similar to, the main Bridge Foot one which I think should still be the main one and used for Remebrance Sunday etc as should all the other existing ones everywhere.

This is so hard to explain.... I mean more of a remembrance garden area and something more modern (to attract younger members of society too so that they will walk round, remember and reflect on the losses of war) but still something that is respectful and meaningful to all who visit.

Think seperate curved walls with groups of names and maybe their ages/regiments on that you walk through.   I started researching lots of the names on th Stockton Heath and Walton cenotaphs and to me all the names mean even more when I walk past now I know more about who they were, their ages, where they lived, and where they fought and sadly died.  

I'd put etchings of meaningful images along the walls too (I like images and find them very meaningful) and the curved lines from one area leads you to the next area and the next names etc.... seating in each curve for those who want to sit near their families name and remember..... and I'd also have gentle water falling from something as the sound of water is soothing and gives a sense of feeling too.  Something like two hands holding each other with gentle water falling from them into a shallow pool.   Sublte lighting for night time too so it's just as lovely and meaningful 24 hours a day and no matter when you go 

Well you did ask.... how many £'s am I up to so far.... I'm on a roll and my mind is going into overdrive but I'll stop for now......

[algy]

Dizz, you forgot the mood music!.

[Dizzy]

No I have the water for that Algy... music would be wrong as everyone likes different things and it just wouldn't be right anyway (and of course Adam might have been reading ha ha)

I'm rather liking my idea so far though but then again I can picture what I actually mean in my head.  Damn shame they have already allocated all the money for doing Bank Park up as I guess they would never change their plans to incorporate something else there now.  

Hey just had a thought.....my curved walls would fit nicely with their new curved paths and circle of grass

[Evil Sid]

or you could put them in town centre around the skittles.

[Bazj]

Finally got the name of my Great Uncle George Henry Woodey being added to the memorial.... George died on 9th May 1915 at the battle of Aubers Ridge and his name was on a plaque which used to be housed in St Pauls Church on Bewsey Road (which was demolished in the early 80's).... the plaque is now at the Lancs regiment museum in Fulwood (even though George was in the 2nd battalion Rifle brigade.... I will be at the rememberance day service this year!!

[algy]

Well done Baz, recognition for your Great Uncle at last.

[daveewood]

the quote "when the area around the memorial may change to accommodate changing opportunities and priorities within the town." is exactly what has happened here

 

I took that as code for maybe it won't always be a traffic island. Get all the new roads built, including somehow a high level one over the ship canal from Walton and one of the bridges near the memorial might be pedestrianised. Move the traffic rather than the memorial.