Restoration of a World War I Memorial at St. Paul’s Church, Clapham

St. Paul’s Church was built on the site of the original church which dated back to the 12th century on a pilgrimage route towards Canterbury. In the 17th and 18th centuries, two thirds of the old church was demolished, with the remaining third being used as a chapel for Sunday School and burial services. The architect Christopher Edmonds was responsible for the rebuilding of the original church in 1815, and in 1879 the church was extended by Blomfield, weith additional changes being made in 1928 and 1970 to it’s present form. There are a number of memorials that remain from the old church, along with other newer memorials dating after 1815.

Britain & Co. were asked to restore one of these newer memorials created in 1919 to honour the fallen during World War I. The memorial had become very faded, and it was decided that for Remembrance Sunday of 2019 that the congregation should be able to see the text clearly once more.

Taking care not to lose any of the original memorial, and preserving the original font, our craftsman restored the original lettering. Using signwriting techniques and brushes, we strengthened the text in enamels and gilding to recreate the original appearance over the course of two days.

100 years after the memorial was originally created, Britain & Co. are proud to have been a part of preserving this tribute to those that gave their lives fighting for peace and to have been able to pay our respects with this project.