Historic town monument campaign receives a lottery boost (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Historic town monument campaign receives a lottery boost

2:20pm Saturday 29th September 2012 in News

THE campaign to return an historic monument to Bromsgrove Cemetery has been boosted by a major lottery grant.

The John Adams Memorial Cross, a focal point of the cemetery, was erected in 1858 in memory of Mr Adams, but was taken down in 2007 by the council, sparking a furore.

Mr Adams was the great uncle of town poet AE Housman, and the owner of the Indigo factory. He also built Perry Hall, and constructed steps and a path to St John’s Church, which became known as Adams’ Hill.

In December 2007, following an inspection by Bromsgrove District Council in which the five metre high monument was deemed unsafe, it was taken down and dismantled.

A year ago, an official fund-raising drive began to raise the money needed to restore the memorial.

Five influential town organisations; the Bromsgrove, Housman and Victorian societies, Bromsgrove District Council, and Avoncroft Museum, are supporting the John Adams Memorial Restoration group’s campaign, which applied for lottery funding last year.

It has now been confirmed the campaign has received £35,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Jennie McGregor-Smith, from the Housman and Victorian societies, said the amount was significant, now leaving them only £1,500 left to raise.

She said three quotations had been sought on the price of the work, and after one is chosen, work can get underway.

It is hoped the work could be completed in summer 2013.

Jim Page, chairman of The Housman Society, said: “The memorial has always had an important place in the Housman Bromsgrove story, so we are delighted such generous support from HLF enables us to have this unique memorial restored.”

Bromsgrove District Council’s cabinet member for environmental services, Councillor Michael Webb said: “I’d like to express my thanks to everyone involved in securing this much needed investment in an important piece of our local heritage.

“This is another example of how effective local community groups and organisations can be when they work together.”

The restoration group is also to research and publish the history of important burials and monuments, and are looking for volunteers to help with the project.

When investigations are complete they will publish a Heritage Walk which will be in print and on a website, downloadable for school visits.

There will also be investigations into the historic trees and the wildlife of the cemetery, for a similar publication.

Anyone who wants to donate to the monument’s restoration can do so by making out a cheque to the Housman Society, mentioning the John Adams Memorial Fund, c/o The Treasurer, 56 Alcester Road, Finstall, Bromsgrove, B60 1EW.

For more details, or to apply to be a volunteer for the Heritage Walk scheme, email jennie@mcgregor-smith.com.