Rediscovered and Restored: The Journey of Lady Barn House School’s War Memorial

In a remarkable story of history and remembrance, a First World War memorial once thought lost has been rediscovered, carefully conserved, and brought back to Lady Barn House School. The memorial—originally commemorating former pupils who died in the Great War—was uncovered in October 2024 in a basement at the University of Manchester’s Simon Building, where it had been stored for safekeeping during the Second World War.

The memorial’s stone had suffered damage and years of dirt build-up, obscuring the names etched into its surface. A team from Manchester Museum undertook about 35 hours of meticulous conservation work to gently remove grime, repair cracks, and reveal the inscriptions once more.

Some of the names on the memorial reflect the diverse backgrounds of pupils who attended the school in the early twentieth century, highlighting personal connections to the local community and its history.

In July 2025, the restored memorial was returned to Lady Barn House School and installed in the school’s reception area. More than a restored artefact, its return revives memory and connection, linking past generations with the present and ensuring the sacrifices of those commemorated are remembered where their lives and learning began.

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