A PARISH council has submitted an application to restore a grade II listed war memorial, to ensure it “looks its best” as it stands pride of place on the village green.

Wherwell War Memorial, on Church Street, Wherwell, is in need of a “refresh” to improve the legibility of the names upon it.

In the application, submitted to Test Valley Borough Council on September 15, the three-sided monument is described by the Parish COuncil as “special”, not only for its listed status, but because it features the names of those lost in both the 1914-18 and 1939-45 wars, and also those who served their King and Country and returned.

Designed by architect Henry Ward, in Chilmark limestone in Ashlar style, Wherwell’s Grade II listed war memorial was unveiled by Major General Sir Robert Wigham on September 25 1920.

The war memorial has a rich history. At the time of unveiling in 1920, there was a large elm tree also situated on the green alongside the High Street. In later years, the five foot diameter trunk of this huge tree had become hollow and the local children would play in it. But, following concerns that it had become unsafe, the tree was fewlled in 1956, during which the monument was damaged.

Thankfully, repairs took palace, and “little or no evidence” of the incident is visible on the structure today.

Other trees followed, but their roots spread too much and so the council says the monument now “takes pride of place amongst the buttercups and daisies”.

Now, it hopes to give the memorial, which acts as a “focal point” for villagers, the makeover residents believe it deserves.

The council said: “Work has been carried out in the past to keep the memorial looking its best, but time and weathering mean it now needs to be refreshed again.

“Work will be carried out as necessary to the memorial, and giving attention to the lettering and detail will give a finished appearance that is neat and crisp with names clearly legible for future generations.”

The application will now be considered by TVBC. You can view it using reference 21/02695/LBWN.