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CONTRACTORS
have just spent three weeks correcting a lean in the war memorial on
Nantwich
Square. They have filled a cavity underneath it with foam which, hopefully, will
keep it upright.
News that there was anything wrong came at New Year when the local council
decreed that the memorial should be fenced off to stop revellers climbing up it.
Boo! Shame!! Spoil sports!!!
But now we know there was more to it than bureaucrats getting heavy handed.
Someone could have been hurt, not to mention the damage that could have occurred
to a sacred piece of stonework.
The memorial commemorates the fallen of two World Wars and subsequent
conflicts and - presumably because of its location in front of Nantwich Parish
Church - there is a crucifix rather than a statue of an armed soldier
surmounting it.
Around the base are marble plaques recorded the names of the sons of Nantwich
who failed to return home when England went to war.
Black boarding, edged in white, surrounded the memorial as the
contractors went about their work (above). This, we were assured
by The Nantwich Chronicle in advance of the operation, would take place
"only during normal working hours from Monday to Friday" and
would be completed discreetly "without the use of mechanical
diggers."
And now the work is finished (top pictures) and all is well again for
some time to come yet, hopefully.
lAs
you can see from the picture top left, Nantwich Square was in summer
mode with the trees at the west end of the churchyard cutting off a
direct view of the parish church. Of course, it can be seen from
Churchyardside or in a narrow view down Church Walk, but the winter time
"square on" view has gone until the autumn and the leaves fall
once again. [Since this letter was written, storms have
felled one of the trees in Church Walk, giving a better view of St
Mary's. See this Letter.]
lHistorical
note: the war memorial was unveiled by General Sir Beauvoir de Lisle on
September 25, 1921. It had cost £925 to construct; the money was raised by
public subscription. [Source:
Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council website.]
lReturn
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