The bronze soldier on the Vine has been cleaned, repatinated and sealed by Antique Bronze, in time for Remembrance Sunday. See the before and after pictures.
The bronze soldier on top of the Vine War Memorial no longer wears a coat of green corrosion. Specialist conservators have cleaned, repatinated and sealed the Grade II listed memorial on Dartford Road, and it will be ready for the town’s Remembrance Service and Parade on Sunday 8 November, Sevenoaks Town Council said today.
The council commissioned the work from the conservation firm Antique Bronze. It began in September after what the council called “an extensive planning process”. Most of it is now done; some repainting of the lettering is still to be finished.
What was done to the bronze
The council lists five stages: surface cleaning, corrosion reduction, repatination, a protective coating and a final finish on the bronze.
The new colour was not chosen by eye on the day. The patination solution was mixed to match the finish of another statue by the same sculptor, Arthur George Walker RA: his Florence Nightingale in Waterloo Place, London.
Lucy Branch, Director at Antique Bronze, said:
“The surface is now stable and representative of the artist’s intended finish. Many members of the public stopped to say how much they appreciated the work and valued the sculpture.”
The memorial and its 226 names
Walker’s memorial is a bronze figure of a soldier on a granite base, with relief panels on its north and south faces. The base and the pedestal beneath it carry the names of 226 local men who died between 1914 and 1918.
It was unveiled on 29 October 1920, when, the council says, thousands of people came to the Vine to pay tribute. The memorial turns 106 on 29 October, ten days before this year’s service.
The before and after pictures of one relief, a ship’s gun crew at work, show the difference most clearly. The green bloom that had covered the sailors and their gun has gone, and the detail of their caps, faces and the gun shield is back.
Who paid
The work was commissioned by the town council. Cllr Richard Streatfeild MBE, the Kent County Councillor for Sevenoaks Town, put money towards it from his member allowance. The release does not give the total cost or the size of his contribution.
He said:
“I am delighted by the quality of the restoration of the War Memorial. It is a privilege to be in a position to contribute to one of the most important monuments in Sevenoaks. One that symbolises our freedom and the sacrifice that was made for it.”
The Mayor of Sevenoaks, Cllr Victoria Granville, said:
“The Sevenoaks War Memorial holds a cherished place in our community, honouring the courage, service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces. This autumn’s restoration has preserved the monument for future generations, ensuring that our community will continue to gather there for our annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations. Throughout the year, the memorial stands as a lasting expression of our gratitude to those who serve and have served.”
What it means for you
- Remembrance Sunday is on 8 November at the Vine. Times, the Armistice Day service at Greatness Cemetery and the Edenbridge programme are on our Remembrance Sunday in Sevenoaks page.
- Knitted poppies wanted. The town council is collecting knitted poppies for a display at the Vine. Drop them at the Town Council Offices on Bradbourne Vale Road by Monday 2 November.
- Expect a little more work. The lettering is still being repainted, so you may see the conservators back on the Vine before the service.
More from the council is on the Sevenoaks Town Council website.
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