Showcase result

Mere

Mere war memorial comprises a stone Latin cross with elaborately carved square capped arms. Sculpted points project at an angle from the centre of the cross between the cross arms. The cross-head is above a moulded collar atop a tapering octagonal shaft with chamfered stops and a square foot. This rises from a chamfered square plinth, which is also curved to the top corners. The plinth surmounts a four-stepped octagonal base. The names of 48 parishioners who died in World War I are on plaques affixed to the three other faces of the plinth. An additional inscription is to a stone plaque affixed to the east face of the uppermost step of the base and reads, 1939 – 1945 with the names of the 12 parishioners who died during World War II recorded on plaques to the south-east and north-east faces of the uppermost step of the base. The memorial was unveiled on 1st January 1921 and is located in The Square at the centre of the town of Mere. It is Grade II listed by Historic England.

In 2018 this memorial received a War Memorials Trust grant of £4,460 from Grants for War Memorials scheme supported by Historic England. Areas of the memorial’s cross had cracked. This initially appeared to have occurred as a result of water ingress corroding an internal ferrous metal dowel (which holds the component parts together and upright). However, upon investigation, it became apparent the damage had been caused by an earlier, inappropriate repair to the tenon area using cement. The expansion and contraction through freezing and thawing of water within the structure had damaged the stone. In line with best conservation practice, the cross was pinned-together using stainless steel dowel and repairs were carried out using lime mortar to reinstate the original design. Damaged areas of stone previously repaired using cement had failed and so were were repaired using a lime mortar consolidant to reinstate the original profile of the stone. Cleaning was undertaken using water and natural bristle brushes. The construction joints were all pointed using a lime mortar.

The inscriptions read:
1914 – 1919 Their Name Liveth For Evermore 1939 – 1945

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM10856
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 23954

War Memorials Online: 160246

National Heritage List for England: 1452025

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

Return to search results | Start a new search