Work is underway to replace a historic war memorial at Anfield Cemetery in Liverpool, with hopes it will be ready for this year's Remembrance services.
Memorial removed after deterioration
The monument, which had been cordoned off for months due to safety concerns, has now been flattened and removed entirely. The site remains fenced off, with only hardstanding and gravel remaining.
Anfield Cemetery on Priory Road covers over 110 acres and was designed by Edward Kemp in a French style. Opened in 1863, the grade II listed cemetery has three chapels and entrances designed by Liverpool architects Lucy and Littler.
History of the Blitz memorial
The Blitz memorial was built by the city council, then known as the Liverpool Corporation, at a cost of £4,400 in 1951. It was proposed by Alderman Alfred Ernest Shennan, who also designed the Abbey Cinema in Wavertree.
When first built, the memorial read: "Erected by the citizens of Liverpool to the memory of all those who gave their lives during the attacks from the air upon the city whom five hundred and fifty four are buried in this communal grave 1939-1945."
In 1949, city architect Dr Ronald Bradbury was instructed to invite tenders for the work. The Liverpool Daily Post said the existing conditions presented a problem, noting: "Existing conditions in the cemetery surrounding the communal grave, which is extremely long and narrow, limit the form the memorial can take." The communal grave is 170 feet long and three feet wide.
Restoration plans
The Friends of Anfield Cemetery, working with the city council, aims to restore the memorial. Last summer, Alan Sheldon, Liverpool Council head of bereavement services, said around £50,000 would be spent to reimagine the site. He also said there were plans to line the memorial with poppies.
It is understood around 370 of the bodies in the communal grave have been identified over time, with more than 100 unaccounted for. Because of the nature of the damage over the last two decades, the memorial is to be replaced.
Earlier this year, a Liverpool Council spokesperson said: "We will be starting work shortly, with ground works and landscaping taking place over the next few months. The aim is to have the memorial ready for commemorations this November. There has been an extensive lead in period due to the time taken to produce the granite memorial."
