War Memorials Trust
 

Grants for War Memorials (English Heritage)

Works to freestanding war memorials in England are eligible for support through the Grants for War Memorials funded by English Heritage and The Wolfson Foundation.

This grant scheme funds up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £20,000 grant per project. Application deadlines for the scheme are 31st March and 30th September each year. Decisions are usually given 3 months after the deadlines.

The scheme focuses on repair and conservation projects that aim to restrain the process of decay without damaging or altering the war memorial’s overall appearance, historic or architectural importance. Works that disturb or damage historic fabric cannot be funded.

Eligible works include:

  • Urgent and necessary repairs to the fabric, including works of structural stabilisation
  • Selective replacement of severely weathered function elements or decorative features where the structural stability or the integrity of design of the memorial is compromised by its present condition
  • Work to improve the legibility of eroded inscriptions where words can no longer be read (e.g. re-leading, re-gilding, limited re-cutting)
  • Reinstatement of missing elements where the memorial has largely retained its integrity of design and without which its symbolic value is compromised
  • Cleaning where the surface built up is damaging the fabric or renders the inscriptions illegible
  • Works to hard landscaping part of the memorial’s integral design
  • Fees of a conservation-accredited professional involved in the project (e.g. surveyor or architect)

Ineligible works include:

  • Works to projects costing less than £3,000
  • Work already started and/or completed before a grant offer is made
  • Routine maintenance (e.g. small amounts of dirt, re-pointing etc)
  • Dismantling unless absolutely necessary to carry out repair
  • Removing or relocating the war memorial for any reason
  • New work, additions or alterations to the existing design or materials of the war memorial (e.g. replacing limestone plaques with granite or erecting railings)
  • Addition of names
  • Reconstruction that is not based on firm historic evidence
  • Cleaning for purely cosmetic reasons. This can reduce the longevity of the memorial.
  • 'Soft' landscaping works such as re-seeding and planting

The scheme is open to anyone to apply, individuals or organisations. However if you are not responsible for the war memorial we do ask you to provide written proof that you have the custodian’s consent to carry out the proposed works.

If the works that you are proposing to carry out to your freestanding war memorial are not eligible under this scheme, you should check whether they could be funded under our Small Grants Scheme.

In order to clarify if the Grants for War Memorials scheme is right for your project and to receive the full Guidance Notes and Application Form, you need to submit a 'Grants: Expression of interest' form.