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Glenelg

Glenelg war memorial is composed of a stone pedestal surmounted by a bronze sculpture consisting of a winged female Victory, a kneeling female figure representing Humanity, and a kilted Highland soldier with head bowed representing Peace. The theme of the sculpture is Peace and Victory coming to the aid of Humanity. There are dedicatory bronze plaques located on the pedestal for World War I and World War II. The memorial is located just outside Glenelg village, overlooking Glenelg Bay, near Kyle of Lochalsh. It is category A listed by Historic Environment Scotland (the highest grade in the Scottish listed buildings categories).

In 2009, a grant of £3078 was offered for conservation and repair of the memorial through the Small Grants Scheme in Scotland. Particular attention was required to the bronze inscription plaques as there was a loss of their original patina, possibly as a result of the memorials environment, but also possibly as a result of inappropriate cleaning methods. This resulted in the plaques having a green surface corrosion as the patina acts to protect the bronze beneath. Therefore, to address this, the bronze plaques were cleaned with soft non-metallic brushes, wooden spatulas, and steam as necessary, and tests were carried out to establish the appropriate solvent to use to remove the old wax on the plaques. The corrosion on the plaques was removed by hand. The plaques were re-patinated, a microcrystalline wax was applied and they were polished. One of the plaques had a dent in it, possibly a result of vandalism; but it proved too difficult to correct this. Joints around the plaques were raked out by hand and re-pointed with hydraulic lime mortar to make sure water was not being allowed in to the structure or behind the plaques.

In April 2017, a grant of £1,710 was offered through the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund to support a conservation-accredited professional advisor to undertake a survey and condition report on the memorial.  The memorial has complex issues with its stonework which has historically been painted.  The report developed a clear Specification of Works to be undertaken to conserve and repair the memorial.

That Specification formed the basis of the next phase of work which in January 2018 was awarded a further grant. Works included the removal of paint with the method confirmed after test samples to identify the approach that caused least damage to the stonework. Areas of stone were repaired after petrograhic testing of the existing stone. These tests were designed to identify the type of stone and ensure any new stone introduced through the repairs was a chemical match to minimise the chance of a new stone type interacting negatively with the current material and increasing the speed of weathering. People are often unaware of the diversity of stone types and the impact that undertaking repairs with the wrong type of stone can have. The memorial was also re-pointed. Alongside this the bronze work was cleaned, the railing re-painted and some minor landscaping work undertaken. A Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund grant of £11,650 supported the works. As part of the In Memoriam 2014 initiative the metal elements were also protected with SmartWater to deter theft.

Glenelg war memorial was built in 1920, it was sponsored by Lady Scott, the designer was Sir Robert Lorimer (architect for the Scottish National War Memorial), and the sculptor was Louis Deuchars and was cast in the Albion Art Foundry, London. The memorial was dedicated on 23rd October 1920, and unveiled by Sir John Banner and Lady Banner.

The inscription reads:

1914-1919
To the glory of God and in honoured memory
of the officers non-commissioned officers and men
who gave their lives for their Country
in the Great War

Their name liveth for evermore

Also of the following who fell in the
Second World War 1939-1945 

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM3060
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 6031

War Memorials Online: 131015

Historic Environment Scotland listing: 7236

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

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