Conservation Bulletin 70 | PDF - English Heritage

COMMUNITIES FIGHTING BACK
in October during the lead-up to Remembrance
Day.
Encouragingly, 2012 saw the number of cases
fall to 17.This reduction of nearly 60% in just one
year is in line with the reduction in metal theft
reported by other heritage groups. It is hoped that
this reduction will continue, but as long as theft
and vandalism takes place, the Trust will seek to
provide support to those affected.
Repair and replacement options
Theft from war memorials is distressing at any time
of the year, but when it occurs close to Remembrance
Day it puts pressure on custodians to replace
the stolen item as soon as possible, as otherwise
a service may have to go ahead with some or all
of the names missing. This poses problems, as it
may not be possible to achieve a replacement
quickly enough due to the time required to
research the original inscription, obtain consents,
produce replacement elements and find the necessary
funds. Attempting to have the memorial
restored by Remembrance Day can lead to
unsatisfactory long-term results, which is why it is
sometimes better to install temporary replacements
for the services.
In cases of theft the Trust’s initial recommendation
is like-for-like replacement. Some people are
concerned that this will lead to further thefts,
but this need not be the case if it includes preventative
measures such as anti-theft fixings, forensic
marking and improved security of the memorial’s
surroundings.
Any alterations to the original design should
be carefully considered as they will need to be
sympathetic and durable. In cases of persistent theft
the Trust will consider replacement with alternative
traditional materials. For example, this could
involve replacing a metal plaque with inscriptions
carved into the stone.The Trust does not support
replacement with resin or synthetic products
designed to replicate metal, both for aesthetic
reasons and the lack of certainty over long-term
durability. Furthermore, these options are often not
significantly cheaper than like-for-like replacement
– and there have even been cases of attempted
theft where the imitation is mistaken for metal.
Changing trends in theft: a case study
The war memorial on Honeywood Walk in
Carshalton, London Borough of Sutton, provides
a good illustration of the changing trends in theft
and their impact on the community.
The Portland stone cenotaph was originally
The war memorial at Carshalton had its brass plaques stolen in 2011.These have now been replaced with a less-easily stolen
stone panel that more closely reflects the original design of the monument.
© War Memorials Trust [after restoration]
Issue 70: Summer 2013 | Conservation bulletin | 37