Next stage in the cenotaph scheme

Next stage in the cenotaph scheme

16 December 2015

WORK is underway on the second phase of the ambitious restoration of the war memorial in Ballynahinch town centre.

Contractors worked hard to have the new memorial’s plinth, granite steps, obelisk and original slate names all in place ahead of last month’s Remembrance Sunday wreath-laying ceremony, with the restoration work generously funded by groups and individuals from across the community.

In 1934, the original war memorial was built on a small garden plot outside the town’s railway station known as The Diamond. This plot was gifted to the original War Memorial Committee in 1933 by the proprietors of the Belfast and County Down Railway. 

Trains ceased to run to Ballynahinch in January 1950, but the platform and railway station remained intact until the mid 1960s.

Eventually, the building was demolished to make way for a new group headquarters for GPs in the town and when they later moved to new premises in Dromore Street, district nurses and social workers took up residence in the building.

Over time, what is now the community health services building, has overshadowed the original “diamond” area. However, during the first few days of work on phase two of the restoration project, new granite kerbing has distinctively marked out the original war memorial perimeter.

In addition to the new diamond paved area, contractors are also carving the names of around 50 people who died in the first and second world wars whose names did not feature on the original cenotaph. The names are being carved on the two existing blank faces of the plinth.

New floodlighting is also being installed, with two small walls planned to highlight the shape of the diamond area. 

The Ballynahinch War Memorial Restoration Committee is delighted with the new memorial and wishes to publicly thank everyone who has donated, time, labour, materials and money so far. Describing the collective effort to date as “tremendous,” the restoration committee said a number of events are being planned across the community in 2016.

The group added: “The fruits of all our labours are now fully evident and it is great to see. We hope the spirit of this great community effort continues into the New Year with the completion of our new and proud war memorial.”