Repair work to Spalding war memorial at Ayscoughfee Gardens to go ahead

Repairs that will restore an eye-catching war memorial back to its former glory will go ahead.

South Holland District Council’s planning committee praised the beautiful Grade I-listed Temple of Remembrance at Spalding’s Ayscoughfee Gardens, before voting unanimously to award listed building consent for for the work to be undertaken.

“Given what we are acknowledging this week, with the 80th anniversary of VE Day, I think this is timely that this is at planning,” Coun Paul Redgate said at the meeting on Wednesday (May 7).

“I’m really pleased we’re trying to be really sympathetic to what this building stands for and the heritage that goes alongside it.

“It’s great to see we can return this to good order and as a lasting memorial.”

In a short but poignant speech which was followed by a moment of reflection in the chamber, Coun Chris Brewis noted the importance of the memorial as a signpost to both the past and future.

“Lest we forget,” he began.

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“My dad was a decorated war hero and I think we want to make sure we remember these things in the, perhaps, vain hope it won’t happen again.”

Also looking to the future was Coun Andrew Tennant, who said: “I always say Ayscoughfee is the crowing jewel of Spalding.

“We need to do everything we can to make sure it looks as good in 100 years as it does now.”

The war memorial designed by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, whose vision also created the Cenotaph, and unveiled in 1922.

But over the years the temple of remembrance has suffered damage due to wear and tear, with the rear wall, ceiling, columns, roofing structure, and external walls all needing expert repair work.

Coun Andrew Woolf also backed the plans, but questioned the finer details of how the work would be carried out.

“I’m so pleased this has come forward and I’m sure it will look fantastic when its done,” he said before asking how the reclaimed tiles that would replace broken ones at the memorial would be sourced.

Council staff explained that ‘accredited professionals and experts in heritage conservation’ would be undertaking the work, and they would have the know-how to ‘access materials appropriately’.

Coun Redgate suggested a condition be added that reclaimed tiles be placed on the rear of the temple of remembrance, with original tiles moved to the front to replace any breakages.

This was added to the motion which was voted through unanimously.

At the beginning of the meeting, committee members heard that the consultation period for the plans was still set to run for a further week.

Following the publishing of the report, three further letters of consultation were received, the chamber was told.

The War Memorials Trust had written in support of the proposals while Historic England and the Garden Trust both stated they had no objections to the repair work.