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Ashton-under-Lyne Grammar School

This memorial takes the form of an oak board which was originally part of a lectern at the school. At the top there is a carved biblical scene in relief and the figures have gilt halos, in the central part of the board are carved incised inscriptions with the names of former pupils who were killed in the Second World War. The names are painted red and the general inscriptions are gilt.

The memorial had been located in Tameside Museum and Galleries Service’s store since it was removed from the school in 1996. Therefore the project was to repair the damage on the memorial so it could be put on permanent display and to conserve the memorial - rather than restore it - so that it was in appropriate condition for display but so that it still reflected its history. Most of the damage was water staining along the bottom and there was also damage to the gilding and surface treatment and there were some splits in the wood (which may have dated from when the memorial was placed in the school as the heating affected the oak). To treat this condition the memorial received a surface clean and the old wax was removed; the gilding was consolidated; areas which had lost lacquer were re-lacquered; the lost areas of gilding were re-gilded (this can be differentiated from the original under assessment and removed without causing damage, if necessary) and the lettering was re-painted where this had been lost. Finally the board was sealed and polished. Following the grant the memorial was relocated to the Portland Basin Museum and put on display.

The memorial was made around 1951 by Noel Andrew who was from Ashton and the lectern was made by local cabinet maker Eric de Court. The lectern became damaged and the memorial board is the only piece that remains.

The inscriptions on the memorial read:

“In memory of old boys
who died on active
service 1939-1945”

This is followed by the names of the fallen. The memorial then reads:

“Ashton-under-Lyne
Grammar School”

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM3548
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 55979

War Memorials Online: 69749

Ashton-under-Lyne Grammar School website

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

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