Showcase result

Campsie (Lennoxtown)

Campsie war memorial is located on Main Street, Lennoxtown. The war memorial is an arched gateway which leads to Campsie churchyard and cemetery. There is a large arched opening in the centre and a small pedestrian arch to the left. To either side of the main arch there are decorative projecting caved stone buttresses, surmounted with carved stone pinnacles, inset with stone plaques incised with a World War One roll on honour. To the left of the pedestrian arch there is a smaller buttress and bronze plaque with a World War Two roll on honour. Above the main arch is relief caved inscription and, to either side, relief stone caved angels. Mounted on the top of the structure is a stone carved decorative cross. There are decorative iron gates to both arched openings.

In 2016 a grant of £30,480.00 was offered for repair and conservation work. Inappropriate cementitious mortar pointing had significantly deteriorated and was spoiling out of the joints. There was a large amount of organic growth, specifically lichen, across the monument. The gates were suffering from corrosion and were distorted in areas; the vehicle gate (and some of the stone work including the section that held the gate hinge) had been damaged following vehicle impact. Some of the masonry was chipped and cracked. Some of the carved features had lost definition and previous repairs were showing signs of failing.

To address these issues, the failed cement mortar was carefully raked out across the memorial and then joints re-pointed using a lime mortar allowing the masonry to breathe again. Organic growth was removed and the masonry cleaned. The bronze plaque was cleaned to remove excess wax, the surface then gently heated before the application of a tinted wax followed by two coats of microcrystalline wax, buffed to a soft sheen. The vehicle gates were removed from the site to be reworked and treated before being reintroduced. The damaged stone which had held the gate hinge was replaced on a like for like basis and to match the profile of the original surrounding stones. The hinge was fixed back into position. Some of the stone name panels show signs of lamination but a conservation decision was taken not to consolidate or coat the surface at this time as this could exacerbate the existing damage.

The war memorial was designed by Glasgow Architects Messrs Paterson & Stoddart and took three years to build. Historic photographs show that the gate arch originally stood between and against buildings on either side. These buildings have since been demolished although there are remains of the adjoining walls on each side. The memorial was unveiled in April 1925 by General Sir Charles Munro and involved a procession by Highlanders, local ex-servicemen and youth organisations.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM8415
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 5987

War Memorials Online: 165084

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

Return to search results | Start a new search