A historic war memorial in a North Yorkshire market town is set to be cleaned and repaired to ensure the names of the fallen remain legible.
North Yorkshire Council has published plans for the renovation of the memorial in the Friary Gardens in Richmond.
Planning permission is being sought for a “discreet programme of conservation works that will leave the memorial’s size, form and setting unchanged”.
Marcus Storey, from consultants Align Property Services, added in a report to the council’s planning department: “The proposed works arise from the need to deal with visible deterioration and ensure the continued legibility of the Richmond Borough War Memorial.
“An inspection in July 2025 revealed open and weathered mortar joints, biological growths such as moss and lichen and pollution crusts on the base and carved ship motif, while the upper column and cross remain sound.
“These issues trap moisture and obscure inscriptions, threatening long‑term conservation. The development therefore seeks to carry out minimal, sympathetic intervention to remove damaging deposits, repoint open joints in lime mortar and undertake very limited stone repairs, so that the memorial can continue to serve as a witness to the sacrifices of the local community.”
The report stresses that there will be no material change to the appearance of the war memorial and guidance from Historic England will be followed during the project.
Only the base, steps, ship carving and plaques will be worked on.
It adds: “By using hand tools, a mild biocide, nebulous mist rinsing and, only if required, low‑pressure super‑heated steam, the cleaning will remove deposits while retaining the memorial’s patina of age.
“Lime repointing will be colour‑matched to the existing mortar, and any replacement stones will match the original in texture and carving. The bronze plaques will retain their natural patina following gentle washing and waxing.
“Consequently, the works will subtly enhance legibility without altering the character or appearance of the memorial.”
The work was welcomed by Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons.
He said: “It is great that North Yorkshire Council is finally applying to clean the war memorial in Friary Gardens.
“Sadly, it has taken nearly a year to get to this stage. Hopefully, when the work is at long last completed, families will be able, once again, to find their families’ names displayed with pride.”
A decision on the planning application for the work is due to be taken in the coming weeks.
The memorial was built in 1921 after land was donated by Lord Zetland. Costing £1,100, the memorial commemorates 101 local servicemen who died in the First World War.
Following the Second World War, the names of 54 men who died in that conflict were added.
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