32 C O N T E X T 1 0 7 : N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 8 UKNational Inventory ofWar Memorials (UKNIWM) was set up in 1989 as a joint initiative of the Imperial War Museum and English Heritage. Information was seen as the key to successful preservation, so the project aimed to record all objects in the UK created or installed to commemorate those killed in or as a result of military service. Additionally an operational database was made available to as wide a public as possible as a research tool. The UKNIWM is now run by two employees, with a vast team of volunteers who collect the data. It is estimated that there are 70,000 war memorials in the UK. The database – including physical and historical details – is publicly available on the UKNIWM website. The UKNIWM plans to add images, more personal names and a map-based search facility to the database over the next few years, and to develop educational resources using the material in their archive and other sources. War Memorials Trust War Memorials Trust (WMT) is the only organisation dedicated to campaigning for the protection and conservation of war memorials throughout the UK. The charity (originally known as Friends of War Memorials) was set up in 1997 amid concerns about vandalism and neglect. It aims to improve public understanding of war memorial heritage and raise awareness of the issues surrounding their protection and conservation, by providing expert advice to those involved in war memorial projects and facilitating conservation through grants. The WMT has grown over the past 10 years. It employs three staff, including a conservation officer whose responsibilities include providing advice on technical and statutory issues relating to the care of war memorials, and administering grant schemes. The trust provides advice and information on a wide variety of issues, including funding sources and how to make a listing application. It is supported by more than 100 regional volunteers across the UK. As part of its educational work, the trust publishes a quarterly bulletin. It has recently updated and relaunched its website, and is working with the UKNIWM to develop a formal learning programme. Statutory protection Many freestanding war memorials are listed in their own right, or receive statutory protection as curtilage structures to other designated buildings. More are being added to the statutory list. A few, generally those that have been adapted from earlier public structures, are scheduled.The level of such protection is expected to continue under the draft Heritage Protection Bill. English Heritage explains in its Selection Guides the principles it follows when choosing buildings for designation. The Commemorative Structures guide explains that, unless compromised by alteration or of limited formal or visual interest, there is a presumption in favour of listing all freestanding war memorials, and that those of more than special visual interest will warrant listing at higher grades. The guide emphasises the historic significance of memorials of standard designs such as crosses, particularly when inscriptions of casualties are included. Conservation and repair Many of the problems affecting the physical condition of war memorials are similar to those faced by other buildings or forms of public sculpture. They include structural instability, general weathering and decay, graffiti and other types of vandalism. The primary purpose of a war memorial repair project should be to restrain the process of decay without damaging the character of the memorial, altering the features which give it its historic or architectural interest, or unnecessarily disturbing or destroying historic fabric. The use of inappropriate materials and techniques can cause further problems and long-term damage to the fabric of the war memorial, so repairs should never be carried out without first analysing the physical characteristics of the memorial and identifying the causes of any defects. Those who accept responsibility for maintaining the fabric of war memorials often have little or no experience of the conservation and repair of historic buildings, and do not know who to turn to for advice. Although the local monumental mason or small building firm may have experience in producing new work and carrying out general household repairs, they often lack the specialised knowledge and skill which are essential for good specification and practice in building conservation work. Choosing the right conservator or conservation contractor is essential to a successful outcome. MottinghamWar Memorial, one of 18 maintained by the London Borough of Bromley (Photo: English Heritage)
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