EXAMPLES OF RESTORATION WORK ON GRAVES 
Members are reminded that before commencing any restoration work that permission may be required of the Burial Rights Owner and in cemeteries owned by local councils that health and safety issues or permission to work in an area to which the public have access may need to be addressed with the local council or cemetery owner. The following examples are supplied courtesy of Ford Park Cemetery Trust using a 'before' and 'after' pair of images. If other members have local examples that we could include to encourage restoration please contact webmaster
The above examples of restoration were supplied by Ford Park Cemetery Trust [Plymouth]. The Trust employs one stonemason.
Another example of restoration has been supplied by Dr Joanna Moody on behalf of the Friends of Pateley Bridge Cemetery and St Mary's Churchyard.
The Harker Memorial is an impressive monument in stone with railings near the lower wicket gate into Old Church Lane. It commemorates thirteen members of a local family, the Harkers, who lived at Harefield and were well known at Pateley Bridge in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
before restoration [courtesy of the Friends group]
William Harker, who made his fortune in the Bradford wool trade, was a director of the Bradford Banking Company [later merged into Barclays] and became a Liberal MP for the Ripon area in 1885. A popular resident, he was one of those who helped to ensure the development of an improved water supply and improved sewage disposal. He died in 1905.
Other members of his family included on the monument include his son, Robert who fell in action in France in 1915; a descendant Frederick, who was killed in action at sea in 1940 and little Robert who died aged only two years old.
In 1906, in her father's memory Gertrude his eldest daughter had the ancient Chapel of St Mary the Virgin repaired and pointed, which by this time had been deconscentrated and left as a ruin.
The Harker memorial was in a neglected state until members of the Friends decided in 2006 to see what could be done to improve its condition. Working in partnership with Harrogate Borough Council and the Parochial Church Council, they happily discovered a forgotten Harker Trust Fund. This had been set up some decades ago to maintain both the memorial and the surrounding churchyard. This enabled them to organize and finance clearance of the memorial by members of the Friends group. A difficult repair to the railings was carried out by Ian Parker of Killinghall and painted by Chairman, John Hone. The Harker Trust funded the railings and replacement finials and the Friends provided labour, paint and brushes.
after restoration [courtesy of the Friends group]
St Mary's Churchyard is on the Pateley Bridge Outer Heritage Trail and the Harker monument is perhaps the most striking of the many ancient memorials which record a biographical history of the town.
Friends of Stanton Road Cemetery [Ilkeston] have restored the grave of cricketer James Tilson and dedicated the restoration to the late treasurer of the friends group who also played cricket for two local teams.
Restored cemetery gates Belgrave Cemetery Leicester
August 2008 Courtesy Friends of Belgrave Cemetery
Please also visit our Funerary Monuments Group page on this website
