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Gattonside
Town or City: Gattonside
County: Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale
Country: Scotland
WMT Reference Number: WM5546
Value of grant: £1665.00
Type of memorial: Freestanding
Type of work: Conservation and repair
Grant scheme: Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund
Year: 2014
UKNIWM reference number: 56987
The war memorial consists of a freestanding sandstone cross with carved detailing at its centre. The cross is mounted on a tapering plinth, elevated on a two stepped base. Surrounding the memorial is an ironwork fence. The Gattonside war memorial is set apart from the village on the road which leads to the footbridge across the Tweed.
In 2014 War Memorials Trust offered a grant of £1,665 for conservation and repair works. Due to biological growth and the deterioration of the paint, the inscription was becoming hard to read. Following cleaning, using water and a natural bristle brush, the incised inscription was re-painted using an appropriate paint. Lime mortar repair works were undertaken to address areas of stonework on the cross which had either been chipped and were starting to split along the natural stone layers, these defects were allowing water to get into the stone structure risking further deterioration from the freeze thaw cycle. Surrounding the memorial the hard landscaping had become uneven and loose, the construction joints were either void of mortar or it had become defective. The paving slabs were lifted, relayed and re-grouted ensuring that the base was level.
Gattonside war memorial is the work of Geo Sutherland & Son, Galashield and was unveiled in September 1921, in the presence of a large gathering. It was performed by Private Alexander Lyal of the Melrose Territorials and the names were read out by Willam Scott. On the day of the unveiling the memorial was formally handed to the Gattonside Village Hall Committee.
The inscription on the plinth of the memorial reads:
“In grateful memory of
the men of Gattonside
who fell in the Great War”
On the shaft of the cross there is a roll of honour of those who gave their lives in the First and Second World War.
Further information
War Memorials Trust reference WM5546
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 56987
War Memorials Online: 142289
If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org
