An Update on the Restoration of the Thiepval Memorial

Based on an article by Jon Gedling, Director of Works at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, from the Thiepval Memorial Restoration Project Newsletter

During essential restoration of Edwin Lutyens’s Thiepval Memorial, the memorial was closed to the public, although the cemetery has remained accessible via an entrance on the left-hand side. The 45m-high memorial – the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial in the world – was built to commemorate more than 72,000 British and South African soldiers, who died during the Battle of the Somme and whose bodies were never found. The memorial was unveiled in 1932.

The first phase of the restoration project started in 2014 with a survey carried out to assess the general condition of the memorial. Despite regular maintenance and because of its elevated and isolated location, leaving it more exposed to the elements, the monument was found to need major restoration. Water ingress had occurred, causing deterioration of the engraved name panels of the missing, the loss of mortar pointing and cracked masonry. There was also found to be deterioration of the concrete floor supporting the terrace.

During the first phase of the work, completed in time for the Battle of the Somme centenary commemorations in 2016, the memorial’s 21 flat roofs were waterproofed, the brickwork above the main arch was repaired and repointed and a new drainage system with 1.5km of new pipes, external lighting, flagpoles and crowns were installed. This work was the first part of ensuring that the memorial will remain watertight for the next 100 years.

The second phase of the restoration began in March, 2021. A continuation of the initial works, it involved completion of the drainage system, repairs to bricks and natural stone on the lower part of the memorial and to concrete in the basement, relaying of paving and brickwork on the terrace and the restoration of commemorative name panels. Approximately 60 very badly deteriorated, cracked or illegible panels are being replaced in Portland stone – and engraved in the CWGC’s headstone workshop in France.

The contract for the restoration works was awarded to Monument Group, a company that specialises in the renovation of unique historical sites. The CWGC has worked with this firm in the past and we’re delighted to continue our partnership with it. Belgian conservation architects Bressers oversaw the works to phase one and have been appointed to oversee phase two.

We would like to thank our French partners – La Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC), La Région Hauts-de-France and Le Conseil Départemental de la Somme – for their approval for the works and financial support.

Throughout much of the period of the restoration, the memorial and name panels haven’t been accessible to the public. But now an interactive, digital multimedia exhibition, called “In the Shadow of Thiepval” – free to visitors to the memorial who can access it using a smart phone or tablet – allows them to understand the works and why are we are doing them. It also gives historical and architectural information and tells the stories of the men commemorated on the memorial.