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Burnham

The war memorial consists of a freestanding Portland stone Anglo-Saxon style cross, with decorative Celtic relief stone carvings. The cross and a bronze statue of a solider holding a rifle surmount a square plinth raised on a two-stepped base. The memorial raised from ground level on a circular mound, edged with a circular Portland stone wall, with an incised roll of honour of those who gave their lives in both the First and Second World War. The memorial is located in the North West corner of Burnham Park, accessed from High Street.

In 2014 English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation offered a grant of £10,450 for repair and conservation work. Exposure to weather had caused deterioration of areas of stonework and corrosion of the bronze statue. The cracks, in the stonework and pointing, were letting water into the memorial, which over time would have cause more damage. The inscription was also becoming more difficult to read as the paint had started to peel off. To address these problems the bronze figure was cleaned and re-wax to project it, three areas of stone on the memorial were replaced and the joints were re-pointed with a lime based mortar, In addition the memorial was cleaned and the staining caused by the bronze corrosion was lessened. The inscriptions were also re-painted to improve the legibility.

The Burham war memorial was unveiled on 19th December 1920 on its original site to the South of St Peter’s Church, facing Stomp Road. It was then relocated when the land was exchanged to enable the building of the first Burnham Park Hall. The hall was built during 1964-5 and opened in 1965. The Bronze figure on the memorial was the work of Leonard S Merrifield

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM8555
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 8258

War Memorials Online:  189331

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

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