Earlier this month, Liverpool’s Veterans HQ, revealed the restored commemorative fireplace surround that once adorned the Tiber Street Council School in Liverpool.
The ornately carved solid oak fire surround is decorated with three removable panels bearing the names of former school students and teachers who lost their lives during the First World War.
The surround, which was in several pieces, was found in August in the cellar of Granby Adult Learning services and was saved by Liverpool City Council’s mayoral lead for Heritage and Design, Cllr Alice Bennett.
When it became apparent that the artefact was actually a memorial, Veterans HQ stepped in to undertake the task of repairing and restoring the surround to its former glory.
The surround will be available to view at Liverpool Town Hall from Monday 3 December in the remembrance room, until Veterans HQ’s new facility, at the former Kings barracks on Everton Road, is complete.
Founding trustee, Stuart Fitzgerald, said: “For Veterans HQ to be able to restore this memorial was a true privilege. Our volunteers have worked incredibly hard with an inordinate amount of respect and it’s been overwhelming to see it brought back to life.
Our current veterans and volunteers have taken such time and care to truly honour these young men and they’ve done a wonderful job. We’re now going to be working hard to see if we can trace the families of those named on the memorial to pay our respects.”
