A £12,500 project to improve a War Memorial in memory of 16 local men who died in the two World Wars has been completed in Wistaston, writes Jonathan White.
An area around the Wistaston & Rope War Memorial in the grounds of St Mary’s Church on Church Lane has been modernised and made safer to visit.
The War Memorial is in an elevated position next to the chancel of St Mary’s Church and consists of a rough-hewn stone Celtic cross on a tapered rectangular plinth.
It was built after the First World War and was dedicated on February 20, 1921.
The inscriptions on the memorial contain the names of 16 men from Wistaston and Rope who lost their lives in the First World War and 16 men from Wistaston and Rope who died in the Second World War.
The project work around the War Memorial began in March 2020 and completed in June.
Numerous improvements have been made to the site, including the path to the memorial and around the memorial which has been widened and tarmacked.
The rope top terracotta edging has been reset.
A cast-iron safety railing has been added next to the memorial to make the area safer for viewing and for laying wreaths.
Cart-stone sloped paving has been added between the safety railing and the top of the existing retaining wall.
Shrubbery hedging surrounding the memorial has been removed or trimmed back.
The cross and its inscriptions, the plinth and the flagpole were not affected by the works.
There is also a new area set aside to develop a place to remember non-combatants who lost their lives during the two world wars and those who have died in the service of the country since the Second World War.
The £12,500 project was organised by St Mary’s Church in partnership with Wistaston Parish Council and Rope Parish Council.
Rev Mike Turnbull, of St Mary’s Church, Wistaston, said: “I am so pleased we have finally completed this project in partnership with Wistaston and Rope Parish Councils.
“The refurbishment of the paths and surroundings will enable current, and future generations, to continue to remember, with gratitude, those who have given their lives that we may continue to live our lives in freedom.
“This is an important part of our village’s history and should never be forgotten or neglected.
“I am pleased that we have been able to make it accessible to all once again.
“Next time you are walking by St Mary’s, please do take a walk along the path to the War Memorial, we want it to be visited and valued by the local community as a place to reflect and remember.
“We would be grateful for any donations that people are able to make that will help the church to continue to enhance the area around the War Memorial.”
The project was funded by St Mary’s Church, Wistaston Parish Council, Rope Parish Council, with donations from Bentley Motors and from members of the public.
The Church has underwritten the financial shortfall of the project by £3,000.
Donations toward the refurbishment and the ongoing upkeep of the memorial would be gratefully received.
Address any donations to St Mary’s PCC, The Church Office, Church Lane, Wistaston. CW2 8HA. Or give securely online at https://bit.ly/stmaryswarmemorial
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