IMPROVEMENTS and repairs are to be made to the Shillingstone War Memorial.
Work planned by the parish council includes cleaning the base and steps, re-pointing both the base and sides and re-painting lettering.
The parish had been dubbed “the bravest village in England” because of the high proportion of the population who volunteered for service during the First World War.
The monument is at the junction of Poplar Hill and Knapps and is a Portland stone Celtic cross which was unveiled on September 24 1919 by the Countess of Shaftesbury, with later additions for the Second World War.
A carved stone wreath to the front of the plinth surrounds an inscription to the men of the parish who were lost during First World War.
Steam cleaning will be used to prepare the surface for the re-painting of the 1939 to 1945 names to match the existing. Other lettering will also be re-painted on the Grade ll listed structure.
Work was carried out on the monument after gaining a grant in 2012 but had become discoloured with the front piece and side panel letters becoming almost illegible. While the base panel lettering remains readable if has been covered with lichen and the painted lettering has eroded.
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