Grants for War Memorials
Summary
English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation, in association with the War Memorials Trust, are providing grants for the repair and conservation of free-standing war memorials in England.
These grants are intended to help those who are responsible for the upkeep of war memorials. They are designed to support the care and preservation of war memorials to a high standard, and to prevent the decay of this important part of our built heritage.
The Legacy
War memorials are a unique aspect of our national heritage. They stand at the heart of almost every community in England. According to the UK National Inventory of War Memorials, there are more than 50,000 throughout the United Kingdom.
War memorials are a moving reminder of the terrible losses endured by people in two world wars and other armed conflicts. They ensure that future generations will not forget the price paid by so many people for the freedom we enjoy today.
War memorials are often impressive examples of 19th- and 20th-century art and sculpture, which reflect the spontaneous, emotional responses of bereaved families and communities. They embrace an extraordinary diversity of forms and styles, ranging from simple plaques to statues, crosses, clock towers and lychgates.
The Problem
Because they are such familiar features of our towns and villages, war memorials are often taken for granted. The condition of many of them has deteriorated as a result of neglect. Worse still, many memorials have been damaged or even lost through vandalism, theft, the closure or sale of buildings, and development.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants can be organisations or individuals.
If you are not legally responsible for the war memorial, we would normally expect you to get written consent for your project from the person or organisation that is responsible.
Eligible Projects
To qualify for a grant under this scheme, a war memorial must be a free-standing structure. It should not be a building or part of another building, and it should not represent a financial asset to its owner. This means that memorial halls, bridges, public parks and gardens, hospitals and chapels, for example, are not normally eligible for grants. Graves of all types are also excluded from the scheme.
Grants can be offered for urgent repairs, reinstatement of lost features, work to improve the legibility of eroded inscriptions and cleaning where surface build up is damaging the fabric of a memorial through chemical action. We cannot, however, consider grants for new work, soft landscaping or cleaning for purely cosmetic reasons.
Grants are normally offered for up to 50% of the eligible costs or £10,000, whichever is the smaller. We do not normally offer grants for projects costing leas than £500 in total.
We cannot fund work to the war memorial that has begun before a written grant offer has been made and accepted.
Timetable
Applications for this scheme are assessed in batches every six months. The closing dates for applications are 30 April and 31 October each year.
Available Documents
We have published a free advice leaflet on maintenance, which you can download here together with the application form and application guidance notes.
You are encouraged to discuss your repair project before you apply. Please contact the Conservation Officer at War Memorials Trust (details at the bottom of the page). The Conservation Officer can also advise on monitoring and ongoing maintenance.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Viewer to view these documents, if you don't already have it, download a free copy.
Further Information
The Wolfson Foundation
A charitable foundation set up in 1955 whose aims were stated by the Founder Trustees to be the advancement of health, education, the arts and humanities. While the Foundation invests the majority of its funding in scientific and medical research, its priorities also include the conservation of historic buildings and monuments.
War Memorials Trust
A charity established in 1997 and dedicated to promoting awareness, especially among young people, of the debt owed to those who gave their lives for there country. Its objectives include monitoring the condition of war memorials, and working with local and church authorities and other organisations to ensure that war memorials are properly maintained, protected and preserved.
The UK National Inventory of War Memorials (Imperial War Museum)
A research project set up in 1989 with the purpose of creating a new archive holding information on all war memorials throughout the British Isles. They have also produced a booklet entitled The War Memorial Handbook which offers guidance and useful contacts.
The UK National Inventory of War Memorials
Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
London
SE1 6HZ
Telephone: 020 7416 5353 / 5281
Website: www.iwm.org.uk
The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association
An association established to bring together individuals and organisations with a mutual interest in public monuments and sculpture. It aims to heighten public awareness of Britain's monumental heritage, including war memorials, through its publications, activities and campaigns for listing, preservation, protection and restoration.
Public Monuments and Sculpture Association
72 Lissenden Mansions
London
NW5 1PR
Website: www.pmsa.org.uk
Contact Details
This grant scheme is administered by staff at the War Memorials Trust who can advise you on the application process. If you want to apply for a grant under this scheme, you will need to complete the Grants for War Memorials application form.
For further information and to request an application pack, please contact the War Memorials Trust:
The Conservation Officer
War Memorials Trust
4 Lower Belgrave Street
London
SW1W 0LA
Telephone: 020 7881 0862
Email: info@warmemorials.org
Website: www.warmemorials.org
Email this to a friend