A Wiltshire town has given its 100-year-old war memorial a facelift in time for this year’s Remembrance Sunday service to honour the people who gave their lives in the service of this country.

Bradford on Avon Town Council organised the work with help from a grant from The War Memorials scheme supported by Historic England.

The 2022/23 grant funding allowed stone mason Ian Menford to repair and refurbish the war memorial to coincide with its 100th anniversary. 

A town council spokesman said: “The refurbishment and conservation work on the War Memorial in Westbury Garden have been a massive success. 

“The town council is delighted that the work has been completed ahead of Remembrance Sunday in Westbury Garden. 

“Bradford on Avon Town Council want to thank the War Memorial Trust supported by Historic England for the grant funding which made the work possible.

“The Canadian War Memorial plaque has been cleaned and will soon be repositioned in a more prominent location in Westbury Garden.”

The war memorial was installed to commemorate the Great War and was unveiled on August 3 1922 by Walter Hume Long, 1st Viscount Long of Wraxall. 

The memorial features two bronze tablets with the names of 125 people who died in the Great War arranged alphabetically (Adams C.E to White W.) without rank or regiment.

After 98 years of exposure to wind, rain and sunshine, the memorial’s stone had weathered and deteriorated.

The town council decided to implement the refurbishment with support from the local Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal team.

Work began on September 26 and finished in mid-October. Mr Menford and his team hand-cleaned the recesses, and repointed open and failed joints to steps and paving.

They also carried out fine mortar repairs and repointing to any areas of delamination or soft beds of stone on carved detail.

Bradford on Avon’s contribution to both World Wars was complex both as an industrial town – manufacturing the Avon Rubber products for the war effort – and suffering losses from its small population.

Frances Moreton, director of the War Memorials Trust, said: “War memorials connect us today to those who have given their lives in conflicts throughout history. 

“Conserving them will ensure future generations can continue to pay their respects. War Memorials Trust was delighted to support this project and hopes it will ensure the war memorial remains a focal point for the community.”