The Grade II* war memorial on Grange Hill, West Kirby, has new in-ground lighting in place of an old caged floodlight. Volunteers and Wirral Council did the work.

The Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial on Grange Hill now has its own lighting scheme, so it can be seen at night through the winter. The lighting was switched on at a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Mary Jordan, and the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Peter Oliver OBE. Wirral Council announced it on Monday 9 November (Wirral war memorial shines bright in tribute to the fallen, Wirral View).

The council’s announcement calls it the first time the memorial has been “illuminated”. The same release says there was previously a single floodlight in a cage, so the change is from one caged lamp to a designed scheme.

The memorial is Grade II* listed. It stands on the highest point in West Kirby, and the council says that when it was unveiled it could be seen from most of the surrounding communities.

What has been done

The work was led by the volunteer Friends of Grange Hill with the council. It included:

  • an in-ground lighting system, designed and installed by the council with the specialist firm KDE
  • resurfacing around the memorial plinth, for safety and easier access
  • a new electrical supply pillar for the lights

The Friends helped raise money towards the lighting, the groundworks, the resurfacing and the pillar. The council says the job was finished ahead of Remembrance Sunday. It has not published the cost.

Of the old caged floodlight, Derek Longman, chairman of the Friends of Grange Hill, said it “was totally out of keeping with the memorial and its setting”.

Fourteen years of volunteer work

The Friends started restoring the site in 2012. They first revived the Garden of Remembrance, then improved access for visitors with mobility problems.

“Grange Hill commands one of the finest views in Wirral,” Mr Longman said. “There are other monuments that are illuminated throughout the year, so we felt it was appropriate for this memorial to be lit as well.” He added that the group hopes to recruit more volunteers to carry the work on.

The Mayor said the lighting means “all those who have fallen can be remembered in a dignified and respectful manner” through the winter months.

What comes next

The Friends want to restore the garden next. Trustee Alan Percy said: “We are now looking at fully revitalising the garden area, which is a Second World War memorial in its own right.”

What it means for you

  • Visiting after dark: the memorial is now visible from below on winter evenings, and the paving round the plinth has been resurfaced.
  • Volunteering: the Friends of Grange Hill are looking for new volunteers. The council’s announcement gives no contact details for the group.
  • Remembrance: Wirral’s services, including West Kirby’s, are on our Remembrance Sunday page.