A SEVEN-YEAR project to move a village War Memorial to a neighbouring memorial garden has finally been completed in time for Remembrance Sunday.

The War Memorial at Howle Hill, a listed monument had been located against a boundary hedge next to the village’s bus stop.

The stonemasons from Nigel Cave and Son are seen wrestling Howle Hill’s War Memorial from its location outside the bus stop
TASK: The stonemasons from Nigel Cave and Son are seen beginning the process of removing Howle Hill’s War Memorial from its location outside the bus stop. (Iliffe)

However, in 2019 the local community set about reclaiming a piece of wasteland, part of a former lime quarry that had discarded scalpings amongst the overgrowth.

As the village no longer has a public space nor pub, post office or church, the Memorial Garden will be used to hold social gatherings by residents from Howle Hill and those from nearby local hamlets.

stubborn removal of village's war memorial
STUBBORN: The stonemasons from Nigel Cave and Son are seen wrestling with Howle Hill’s War Memorial at its location. (Iliffe Media)

Local historian Mary Sinclair Powell, who has been an active fundraiser for the project, said: “The site of the war memorial since it moved from the church in 2004 was not very safe or comfortable for anyone visiting the cross, especially during times of Remembrance,” and she welcomed the memorial’s move to the new location.

After obtaining various grants and National Lottery funding and donations from local residents, businesses and Ross Masonic Lodge, The Howle Hill Memorial Garden project team set about renovating of the patch of land and to transform it into a garden began in 2024 with the ultimate aim of moving the village’s war memorial, which honours the brave residents who lost their lives fighting for their country in the two World Wars, to be its centre piece.

The stonemasons from Nigel Cave and Son are seen travelling with Howle Hill’s War Memorial from its location outside the bus stop and taking it to the adjacent memorial garden for it to take centre stage on the new plinth.
NEW LOCATION: The stonemasons from Nigel Cave and Son are seen travelling with Howle Hill’s War Memorial from its location outside the bus stop and taking it to the adjacent memorial garden for it to take centre stage on the new plinth. (Iliffe Media)

However, it took a while for Walford Parish Council to receive planning permission to move the war memorial, a listed monument, into the garden and receive additional funding to complete the move the war memorial’s move from its current position.

The team from Monmouth Memorials led by Nigel Cave, son Josh and Terry Herbert spent the day digging out the war memorial, revealing that the plinth had an additional depth of some five inches, which had been buried within concrete.

The cross has now been placed at the centre of the newly created memorial garden which is behind the chain link fence where it will provide a safe space with seating for anyone wanting to rest or reflect – just in time for Remembrance Sunday on November 8.

The project team will set about cleaning the memorial cross and complete any snagging that may be required in the area over the coming days.

A rededication service will be organised in due course to honour the men named on the memorial.

Paul Cummings, the outgoing chairman of Ross-on-Wye and District Branch of the Royal British Legion praised the Howle Hill Memorial Garden project team and said that with the information boards that have been produced they had done a magnificent job in ‘bringing history to life’ and he added: “The project has put Howle Hill back on the map for military historians, descendants of those commemorated and the general public.”

Yolande Watson, the driving force behind the project said: “There are many people, local companies and organisations and many valued volunteers who have supported the project, provided advice, attended meetings, delivered talks to raise funds, lent a hand to clear brash and made donations.

“It just goes to show that The Howle Hill Memorial Garden Project is a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together and is supported by its partners.”