Plans go into relocate Guyhirn war memorial

A village war memorial is set to be moved for a second time if a planning application gets the go-ahead.

Wisbech St Mary Parish Council – which covers Guyhirn – has applied for the village’s war memorial currently located in the grounds of St Mary Magdalene Church to be moved to the playing field in High Road.

A design, access, and heritage statement drawn up in support of the move by Swann Edwards Architects, explains the reason for the move is because the church and its land are being sold.

The statement also explains the war memorial was previously moved to its current location to allow for the construction of the Guyhirn bypass.

The church has since closed. The Church of England Commissioners ran a public consultation in early 2023 on plans to demolish the Grade II listed building and for the land to be sold for housing development.

A report on the scheme on the Church of England website at the time explained St Mary's closed for worship in 2005 after an application for the closure in December 2003 because the building was in poor condition and lacked necessary facilities for the congregation, who were able to attend services at nearby Wisbech St Mary Church.

The church was subsequently marketed for offers in the region of £50,000.

Swann Edwards says in their statement the parish council has agreed to move the War Memorial, which is Grade II listed, complete with its enclosure to the playing field on a site next to the Chapel of Ease, which is also a listed building.

The report points out: “The War Memorial will remain within the public realm, for both current and future village residents to pay there respects.”

The report adds: “Any works carried out to a designated heritage asset has the potential to affect the significance of that asset. In this instance the development will allow for the War Memorial to remain within the public realm and be in a setting for all the villagers to view.”

The layout of the War Memorial will remain unchanged and the moving of the structure is to be undertaken by specialist contractors.

The report continues: “Whilst the moving of the structure will undoubtedly affect the significance of the designated heritage asset, it is submitted that due to the sensitive location it will be placed, any harm caused to the significance of the structure will be less than substantial. In any event it is submitted that the benefits gained by making the listed structure accessible would outweigh the little harm caused by the development.”

A separate listed building application has also been made to Fenland Council planners.