The renovation of Spalding’s historic war memorial is to be unveiled next week while a special talk will be held to explain the history behind it.
The memorial, in Ayscoughfee Hall Gardens, was unveiled in 1922 and is Grade I listed.
It was designed by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens who is the designer of a host of buildings and memorials, including The Cenotaph in London.
It’s gone under numerous restoration works in recent years, but in May five months worth of £205,000 was started in a bid to get it ready for this year’s Remembrance Services.
It’s renovation is to be officially unveiled in a service at 11am on Tuesday, November 4 after talks by Tim Skelton of the Lutyens Society and Dr David Carrington from contractor Skillingtons which carried out the work.
Mr Skelton has also been booked to give a more in depth talk on the Spalding memorial by the Spalding and District Civic Society.
That will take place at 7.30pm on the same day at Spalding Baptist Church on Swan Street.
A spokesman for the society said: “Renowned Architect Sir Edwin Lutyens designed 50 War memorials following World War One that were erected around the country and overseas including the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in northern France.
“Out of them all, only Spalding’s war memorial has its own chapter in the book ‘Lutyens and the Great War’ co-authored by Tim Skelton of the Lutyens Society.
“Tim was one of several experts that have advised South Holland District Council during the restoration of the memorial which Spalding Civic Society has supported throughout the process.
“Tim has kindly agreed to give an illustrated talk covering the passionate debates that took place in Spalding about which of the different proposals should be pursued, and how a provincial market town was able to secure the services of Sir Edwin Lutyens who was already being recognised as one of the best British architects of the time.
“All are welcome to attend, although the Society would welcome donations to cover the cost of the venue hire and light refreshments that will be provided.”
