Repairs were carried out to the roof, its timber turret, its copper flashings and leadwork, gutters and rainwater pipes, the memorial’s pergola timber frame and to its paving stones.
The memorial offers sheltered public seating in the contemplative setting of a small neighbourhood green space off Cabul Road where people can quietly pay their respects to civilians from Battersea whose lives were mainly lost in Second World War bombing raids.
The monument was first unveiled in 1952, next to the ruins of a mid-19th century church which was itself bombed and destroyed during the war.
The replacement church that now stands at this location – Christ Church and St Stephen - was built in 1959. Christchurch Gardens was the original churchyard but converted to a public open space in 1885.
Following a lobbying effort led by the council, the memorial was awarded Grade II Listed status by English Heritage in March 2015.
Commenting on the conservation scheme, the council’s environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “This has been an excellent project to safeguard the future of a very important local landmark.
“This is a monument to the ordinary men, women and children of Battersea whose lives were lost in the war, mainly as a result of bombing raids.
“There are of course many memorials to the servicemen and women who fought and died in the war but very few exist to commemorate the victims of air attacks which took so many civilian lives, not just in London but in towns and cities across the country.
“I am delighted that that this special memorial in Battersea has been protected and preserved for future generations.”
