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Alnwick

The Grade II listed Alnwick memorial is a Doric column set upon a triangular base, with piers at the corners and a segmental moulded cornice. The base is formed of sandstone blocks, whilst the column is freestone, believed to be from Greenlaw Quarry. A bronze statue is set upon each of the three corners of the triangular base with chamfered corners. Each of the statues is a different representation of a serviceman. There is a sailor, an airman with a cap, as well as a soldier with a tin helmet, backpack and reversed rifle. At the top of the Doric column is an elaborate bronze and glass lantern. Two bronze plaques are attached to the triangular base inscribed with the names of the fallen from the First and Second World Wars. Two further plaques commemorate soldiers killed in Korea and Northern Ireland. The memorial is situated on the corner of Denwick lane in Alnwick, Northumberland.

In 2014 a grant of £8,270 was awarded through the Grants for War Memorials scheme to address the condition of the war memorial. The stone columns had areas of delamination and these were consolidated using a paste of hydraulic lime and an aqueous solution of silicate. The memorial was re-pointed with a lime based mortar. The stone was cleaned using low pressure steam cleaning, along with the application of a poultice to reduce bronze staining. The bronze was also cleaned using low pressure steam cleaning and was re-patinated to match the original colour using ammonium sulphide, with a protective layer of microcrystalline wax applied. The iron sconce at the base of the lantern was treated with a rust inhibitor and the split bronze casing covering the electrical conduit was replaced.

The memorial was built in 1922 on land donated by the Duke of Northumberland, who also donated £1,000 towards the total cost of the memorial, which was over £2,000. The memorial was designed by Hicks and Charlewood of Newcastle and the bronze figures were the work of Roger Hedley of Ralph Hedley of Newcastle. Messrs Green & Sons of Warkworth were the main contractors for the project and Messrs J W Singer of Frome, Somerset cast the bronze elements.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM2064
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 33377

War Memorials Online: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/90971

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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