Memorials get facelifts as 60th anniversay of WW2 approaches
War memorial restoration is providing a boom to Wells Cathedral Stonemasons in Cheddar, Somerset, with local communities wanting to give their memorials a face-lift in time for next year\'s 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
Wells Cathedral Stonemasons\' craftsmen have already been commissioned to restore a number of West Country memorials and have been asked to quote for several more.
Peter Arkell, managing director of Wells Cathedral Stonemasons, says: "Most of our work, in the UK and overseas, is focused on restoring historic stone buildings and producing stone features for new buildings. All of a sudden, we are now seeing a rush of enquiries about restoring stone war memorials in the West Country."
English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation have announced increased funding for England\'s war memorials, giving access to cash for thousands of memorials in need of repair and conservation.
Under the extended scheme, £60,000 will be available each year to help preserve war memorials.
"One of our most memorable pieces of work was a war memorial for Northern Ireland, which involved a larger-than-life sculpture of a soldier carved from a single block of Portland stone," says Peter."