The 10-month project to stabilise the river bank is now complete, and the site is now open for all to use.
The scheme involved carefully removing the Grade II listed monument and surrounding walls and plaques. The riverbank was then piled to secure the land from further falling into the River Mersey. Following this, the monument and surrounding features to re-established onsite.
We also took the opportunity to upgrade the surrounding area, including new the installation of new benches and paving.
Specialist stonemasons Mather and Ellis have rebuilt the stone walls, columns and steps that lead up to the Cenotaph. There's also a new ramped access and floodlighting has been added to light the memorial at night.
Time capsules that discovered inside the Cenotaph in July were removed and are now on display at Warrington Museum. They've been replaced in the Cenotaph by three, brand new time capsules, filled by local primary schools working with Culture Warrington.
The old penny found cemented into the base of the Cenotaph monument has been replaced along with a new commemorative Centenary coin.
Cllr Bowden visited the site ahead of the official re-dedication of the Cenotaph at Remembrance Sunday 10 November 2019. He accompanied by Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Kathy Mitchell and the council's Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Graham Friend.
The scheme was delivered on a design and build basis by contractors Balfour Beatty through the Scape Civil Engineering and Infrastructure Framework. Balfour Beatty has engaged with design consultants Ramboll Ltd who have a specialist team of professionals with experience in delivering high profile heritage projects.
Together with Culture Warrington and Balfour Beatty, we took advantage of this scheme to work with school children from Stockton Heath, Oakwood Avenue and Latchford St James Primary Schools.
Together we worked on issues such as what conflicts and war mean to then.
Oakwood Avenue and Stockton Heath provided artwork and material in which we transferred onto the wreath hangers.
The three schools also provided material for the replacement three time-capsules interned into the Cenotaph Monument. On Friday 12 July 2019, the time capsules were placed within in the monument by the Major of Warrington - Cllr Wendy Johnson, Mayoress Beverley Hallam and Cllr Russ Bowden.
On 5 November 2019, Oakwood Avenue, Stockton Heath and Latchford St James primary schools both visited the site. The Project Team gave the school children a grand tour of the site - our way of saying 'thanks' for all their hard work and dedication that went into the time capsules and wreath hangers. The schools learnt about the history of the site and how we undertook the restoration project.
If you would like any further details on this project please contact us via this address:
