Bolton Council has upgraded the lighting on the town’s cenotaph, allowing the Grade II listed monument to be seen fully at night for the first time in years.
A supply fault meant the flood lighting used to illuminate the sculptures either side of the cenotaph had not been functioning properly for five years.
Meanwhile the central cross had been unilluminated for a decade.
However, the cenotaph has now been returned to its full glory thanks to the work of the council’s street lighting team.
Electricians carried out a series of repairs, replacements, and technical electrical work, all while adhering to the strict rules for the restoration of listed monuments.
The cenotaph was sculpted by John Hope and unveiled in 1928 as a tribute to those lost in the First Word War, further inscriptions were added after the Second World War.
The bronze sculptures on either side, depicting personified representations of “peace” and “war”, were added in 1933 by Walter Marsden.
The cenotaph is the centrepiece of Bolton’s annual remembrance events, and a focal point of many other civic occasions throughout the year.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said:
“The cenotaph is an essential part of the town centre, which stands as a tribute to Bolton’s war heroes and as a symbol of our borough’s longstanding connection to the armed forces.
“Regrettably, for a number of years, this spectacular monument has been obscured from full view in the evenings.
“The work to restore and improve the lighting is part of our ongoing commitment to make the most of Bolton’s many great heritage and cultural assets.”