The
R.101 Memorial Site
Conservation
by Airship Heritage Trust
Cardington
Cemetary, Cardington, Bedfordshire
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After
many years of voluntary and ad hoc support, it was
agreed by the Airship Heritage Trust Council that
we should approach the Parish Council and offer
financial support and volunteer work for the upkeep
of the R.101 Memorial. We are restoring the turf
around the outside, and improving the overall appearance
of the memorial.
This
is an ongoing project and we will be continuing
the work to ensure that the memorial is shown at
is best to all visitors, and those who wish to pay
their respects to those who were tragically lost
in the loss of the R.101.
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March
2025 - 95th Anniversary Stonework Repair and cleaning |
In the autumn of 2024, it was observed that the R101
Memorial required further cleaning, and some areas
of the stonework had experienced additional deterioration.
Given that 2025 marks the 95th anniversary of the
loss of the R101, the Trustees of the Airship Heritage
Trust (AHT) resolved to undertake a programme of professional
cleaning and restoration.
To this end, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
(CWGC) was contacted, and subsequently commissioned
to assess the condition of the memorial, provide a
detailed report, and carry out the necessary cleaning
and repair work. The Airship Heritage Trust ensured
that both Cardington Parish Council and St Marys
Church were kept informed throughout the process.
As a Grade II listed structure, appropriate permissions
were sought and obtained from Bedford Borough Council
prior to the commencement of any work.During the week
commencing 10th March, Dave Chadwick and his team
from the CWGC began the cleaning and repair of the
stonework. The transformation, as evidenced by the
"before" and "after" photographs,
represents a significant improvement. The Airship
Heritage Trust is proud to continue finacially supporting
the preservation and protection of this historically
significant airship memorial.
The Trust extends its sincere thanks to AHT President,
Paul Ross, for his considerable efforts in planning,
coordinating, and liaising with all parties involved,
as well as for securing the required approvals from
the relevant authorities.
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March
2025- Memorial before restoration
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March
2025- Memorial post restoration
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Dave
Chadiwck and CWGC team
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Soft pressure wsahing
shows the extent of the accumlation of dirt. |
Memorial
sides cleanded, starting to see the difference
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Front
and sides cleaned.
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Undertaking
stonework repairs
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Corner
repair
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June
2023 - Stonework cleaning |
After a particuarly wet spring and summer, it was
decided that more cleaning was required on the memorial
and so AHT volunteers, Paul Ross and Alastair Lawson
spent time clearning the surronding flagstones and
boarders to try to remove the dark staning and moss
wihch had accumilated on the memorial over the last
couple of years. |
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June
2020 - Stonework Update report by President Paul
Ross
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Following the completion of the repairs to the R.101
Memorial and Tomb last year, as described in the Spring
issue of Dirigible, Council agreed that Corinthian
Stone should be engaged to clean the Memorial and
all the surrounding stonework. This work has now been
completed and I hope members will agree that the whole
area has been transformed. The cleaning was carried
out using specialist equipment designed to avoid damage
to the stonework and had the agreement and support
of Cardington Parish Council. As expected, it has
not been possible to remove all the rust stains from
the plinth around the base of the Memorial (caused
by wreaths being left in place for too long) but there
has been a great improvement in the Memorial and Tombs
overall appearance. |
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October
2019 - Stonework Update |
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It
was noted that some of the paving and condition of
the memorial was deteriorating over time. AHT Trustee,
Paul Ross worked with the War Graves Commission, and
obtained the appropriate permission and agreement
for work to be undertaken, to make the sympathetic
and approved repairs. Paul went to Cardington on 15th
October, to have a site meeting with Dan Gerard of
Corinthian Stone. Despite the poor weather recently,
they had managed to complete the work on lifting and
re-seating the broken paving stones around the Memorial.
The joints have been cleaned out and filled with a
mixture of sand and gravel to improve drainage. (Dan
said it worked very well in the recent bad weather)
Youll agree that its a great improvement.
They
were completing work on the Memorial itself. They
have replaced the tapered block under one of the
vases and have repaired the broken piece adjacent
to it. The two new sections of stone in the plinth
are a different colour at the moment because the
stone had been stored in the open in Corinthians
yard and got very wet. The colour will lighten as
the stone dries out and should be a close match
to the original. They have also done quite a lot
of re-pointing.
The
group photo shows Dan, Andrew and Ben of Corinthian
Stone and the work undertaken. You will all agree
that the work has been worthwhile. You will also
see how the parched areas of grass have recovered
since the previous photos were taken
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June
2017- R.101 Memorial Update and Information Pannel
unveilling |
Following
the 2017 Annual General Meeting, our Patron, Baroness
Smith, unveiled a new information panel at the R.101
Memorial. The event was attended by members of the
Trust and visitors to the Annual General Meeting.
Also present were Rev. Stephen Smith, Vicar of St
Marys Church, Cardington, and Cllr. Alan Apling,
Chairman of Cardington Parish Council, with whom AHT
Trustee Paul Ross had been working to secure improvements
to the Memorial site and the installation of the panel.
Visitors who now attend the grave and Memorial will
be able to read about its history and the importance
of Cardington, the airships and the men who rest there. |
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February
2016 - Ground preparation
being underaken and re-turfing |
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Turf
around the memorial being laid in March 2016
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