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First Minister announces first grants to repair and conserve Scotland’s war memorials

The first grants from Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund to help repair and conserve Scotland’s war memorials have been announced by First Minster Alex Salmond.

The Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund is a £1 million scheme, launched to commemorate the centenary of World War I, to support the repair and conservation of war memorials in Scotland.

Elderslie, Bridge of Weir and Bearsden will all receive a share of £22,500 to correct memorials damaged through causes such as weather erosion, graffiti and poor historic repair efforts.

Mr Salmond observed the two-minute silence today at Strichen, in Aberdeenshire.

Announcing the initial awards from the fund, the First Minister said:

“Scotland’s war memorials are a lasting tribute to fallen service men and women and it is hugely important that they are maintained. We owe it to the names inscribed on these memorials as well as the families they’ve left behind to keep monuments in a proud condition, reflecting the respect they deserve.

"War monuments play a central role in educating our young people about the ultimate sacrifice members of their community have paid to safeguard our way of life and our freedom throughout the generations.

“This year holds particular significance, as it is the last before next year’s centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

“Scotland, in common with so many other nations, suffered an appalling loss of life in the Great War, and its effects on Scottish life were profound and long-lasting, making this year’s Remembrance especially poignant as we look ahead to next year’s commemorations.

“I am delighted to announce the first grants this Remembrance Day and I want to encourage more communities all over Scotland to apply to the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund to help keep these monuments a central and permanent reminder of both fallen and serving men and women now and for generations.”

Frances Moreton, Director War Memorials Trust, said:

“We are delighted to be distributing grants through the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund. The Trust’s Conservation Officer in Edinburgh is helping communities across Scotland repair and conserve their war memorials for the centenary and we look forward to working with many more over the next few years. Anyone interested in information about the Fund and how it can help should contact us to find out more.”

Notes:

The war memorial projects supported are:

• Elderslie, Abbey Cemetery, Renfrewshire: Grant offer £6,005
  The memorial has loose and cracked cladding panels, poor historic repair work and faded inscriptions which are hard to read. Water is getting into the memorial as there are areas where the existing mortar is cracked or missing. These issues have combined to leave the memorial in a ‘Poor’ condition. The grant funding will support the removal of existing mortar joints and re-pointing of the memorial and the supporting wall using a lime mortar. Work will also include the repair of cracked cladding panels, re-fixing of loose panels, replacement of badly damaged stonework and the re-painting of the memorial inscription.

• Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire: Grant offer £7,461
  The build-up of dirt and algae on the memorial along with flaking paint on the inscription means it is hard to read. In addition the memorial's boundary wall and ironwork railings have extensive decay leaving them in a ‘Poor’ condition. The grant funding will support works which include the removal of cracked or missing cement joints in the boundary wall and re-pointing using a lime mortar. Badly worn away sections of stone will be replaced and the ironwork railings will be cleaned and re-painted. In addition to the boundary wall work, the memorial will be correctly cleaned and the inscription will be re-painted.

On Sunday, the First Minister laid a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh, and attended the service of thanksgiving at St Giles Cathedral.

Notes to editors

Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund has £1 million available to support the repair and conservation of any war memorial of any type anywhere in Scotland. The scheme was launched in April 2013 and will run through the centenary of World War I. Funded by the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland the scheme is administered by War Memorials Trust. For further information visit www.warmemorials.org/grants-scotland.

Details of New Kirkpatrick Church memorial can be found at www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/147308

Details of Elderslie memorial can be found at www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/138106

Details of Bridge of Weir memorial can be found at www.warmemorialsonline.org/node/146633

War Memorials Trust is an independent registered charity. Established in 1997 due to concerns about neglect and vandalism it works to protect and conserve war memorials. It provides advice, information and administers grants schemes that assist the repair and conservation of war memorials across the UK. As a charity the Trust relies on voluntary contributions to undertake its work. Supporters include annual and life members, donors, charitable trusts and corporate contributors. War Memorials Trust provides grants that can assist repair and conservation of war memorials. Contact the Conservation Team to discuss eligibility on 020 7233 7356 / 0300 123 0764 or conservation@warmemorials.org or download a Grants Pre-application form from www.warmemorials.org/grants/

Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament. For more information visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk