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Corston

Corston war memorial is a free-standing limestone market cross located in All Saints Churchyard. The memorial is composed of a base and chamfered plinth which has plaques which carry the inscriptions. Surmounting the plinth is a shaft and the top of the cross is ornately decorated with crocketed finials. On each face of the top of the cross is a scene carved in relief, including the crucifixion of Christ. The Church is located within a conservation area.

In 2010 War Memorials Trust gave a grant of £535 towards conservation and repair works to the memorial. However, once the contractors were on site to commence the programme of works, they highlighted a concern with the structural stability of the memorial and contacted the surveyor on the project. The memorial was leaning and the column could be moved at the head with little force. It was therefore decided that it was a priority to urgently stabilise the memorial and treat the cause of its structural instability. War Memorials Trust offered a further grant of £381 towards these essential works.

Upon inspection, it was identified that the source of the lean was at the plinth to column joint. Scaffolding was erected and the column and crown of the cross were dismantled; this process uncovered that the dowels supporting the structure internally were copper (a malleable metal) and were also considered to be too short. Therefore, the copper dowels were replaced with stainless steel which is a more suitable and stronger material for this function, they are also non-ferrous so will not cause any future damage to the stonework through rusting which is a problem with ferrous fixings. Additional stainless steel dowels were added between the base and the plinth to increase the support where the cause of the lean was identified to. The cross was rebuilt using lime mortar, and all the dowels were run in resin.

Once the works to address the structural problems of the memorial were addressed, the original project was commenced. These works included cleaning the memorial with Jos/TORC system; this is a method of cleaning used in the conservation of historic buildings and monuments, which cleans using a vortex of air, a small amount of water and an appropriate inert material depending on the circumstances. Open joints were re-pointed in lime mortar and a poultice was applied to reduce some of the copper sulphate staining on the stone below the metal plaques; poultices work through capillary action to draw out staining, but it is very difficult to completely remove this type of staining as it penetrates deep within the pore structure of the stone, it is also likely that the staining will re-appear over time particularly if bronze plaques are not routinely maintained and waxed. In addition, a broken finial on the top of the crown was re-fixed with a stainless steel dowel.

The memorial was erected in 1920 and funded by public subscription. The builder was R. F. J. Blackmore and the architect was Mr A. W. Green.

The inscriptions on the memorial read: 

“In memory of the brave men of Corston
who died in the Great War 1914-1919

Capt. F. W. Bartelt
Sgt. W. Eyers
Sgt. A. E. Janes
Sgt W. Smith
Pte. P. G. Box
Pte. E. J. Brooks
Pte. T. W. Davey
Pte. I. Eades
Pte. P. W. Hannam
Gnr. C. G. Hannam
Pte. J. Mercer
Pte. H. H. Miller
Pte. A. J. Rivers

“Greater love hath no man than this” ”
“These also gave their lives
In the 1939-1945 war.

V. P. Barnes
H. L. Brain
E. C. Harrill
D. I. Brain
D. J. Judd

We will remember them”

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM3425
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 7526

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

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