The magnificent war monument represents the memory of the 70 souls of the boys of Old Kilvey lost in WW1.
On November 15, 2024, the resilient community of Kilvey came together under bright autumn skies to honour a group of local heroes who had been lost to time but never forgotten. The unveiling of the new Kilvey War Memorial was a poignant tribute to “The Boys of Old Kilvey”—70 men who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I. The journey to this day was one of perseverance, vision, and collaboration.
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ABOVE: We documented the complete creation of the Kilvey War Monument.
The inspiration for the new memorial began with one determined individual, Anita Pugh, from the SOMMe Charity. For years, Anita had worked tirelessly to recover and restore the remains of the original Kilvey War Memorial. The original plaques had suffered a tragic history, damaged by fire and sadly broken after the Old Saints Church in Kilvey was sold.
By the time Anita found them, only a few broken marble sections remained, their inscriptions faded and their presence all but forgotten.
BELOW: The marble plaques were in a very poor state of repair. Only our seasoned stonemasons had the expertise to renovate them.
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The Design
In early 2024, Anita approached Mossfords Memorial Masons, renowned for their expertise in commemorative projects, to take on this deeply personal mission. Mossfords’ Special Projects Division, War Memorial Conservation Co., embraced the challenge with passion.
They took the broken marble plaques and carefully restored them. Piecing them together seamlessly could only be done by our highly experienced and tremendously skilled artisans. The marble was carefully cleaned using our intricate methods, the inscription hand-restored and painted in black enamel ensuring the names of the 70 fallen soldiers would once again shine brightly.
BELOW: An archive photograph of the original wall-mounted memorial within All Saints Church, Kilvey – only the three marble plaques with the names of the fallen engraved had survived and were to be adapted into the new external monument.
BELOW: Our highly-skilled artisans worked carefully restoring the marble plaques by hand.
BELOW: The disused fibreglass flagpole sat at the location of the new monument.
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The design process was deliberate and meticulous, going through several stages before arriving at the final, magnificent form. Early drafts explored various shapes and configurations, but the final design was chosen for its understated elegance—a seamless unity of strength and grace.
BELOW: Initial designs for the sides of the memorial that were to be created by Welsh blacksmith James Eifion Thomas.
BELOW: The design development for a more substantial base that displays the marble plaques.
During the design process, Anita Pugh and representatives from the community were actively involved, ensuring the memorial reflected the collective vision of Kilvey’s residents. It was vital that the monument not only honoured the fallen but also embodied the strength and unity of those who remembered them.
Every detail of the base was infused with meaning, from its deep black colour—a solemn tribute to mourning—to its polished surface, reflecting the light of the present as a beacon of remembrance for the future.
BELOW: Renderings of how the monument would sit on the flagpole platform. Note the original design constructed entirely of black granite.
BELOW: Proposed measurements of the memorial sitting atop the existing platform.
The Creation
The foundation of the new Kilvey War Memorial was as much a testament to modern craftsmanship as it was to the timeless reverence of those it honoured. The base, an ultra-strong frame clad with fine black granite, became a marriage of strength and elegance, designed to endure for generations.
This base were to be no ordinary structure—it is the backbone of the monument, supporting not only the weight of its physical elements but ensuring resistance to vibration from the road close by. A magnificent structure that the existing flagpole platform could support.
A unique feature of the memorial is its time-capsule niche, a sealed and enclosed space designed to preserve memories for future generations. This detail underscores the community’s commitment to ensuring that the sacrifices of the past are remembered far into the future.
BELOW: Fabricating the frame – note the inbuilt ‘cage’ to house the time capsule toward the rear.
To create the granite cladding, the team used a state-of-the-art CNC saw, a marvel of precision technology. Each slab of fine black granite was intricately cut, ensuring an exact fit for every piece.
Weeding the inscription rubber on the granite panels.
Meticulous hand-polishing in preparation for fitment.
The stonemasons’ work was a labour of love. Once the granite slabs were cut, each seam was painstakingly polished to near invisibility. The aim was to make the cladding appear as though it were a single, solid block of granite—a monolithic testament to permanence and respect.
This painstaking process required a blend of artistry and patience, as each joint was polished by hand until it achieved a mirror-like finish.
BELOW: Applying the granite panels to the frame.
BELOW: Polishing the seams at our manufacturing facility. This was later touched-up on-site.
The Installation
When the base was finally complete, it was transported to the site in Swansea with the utmost care. The installation process was as precise as the construction itself, with the help of our expert fixers’ techniques and the strength and versatility of a spider-crane. The frame and cladding were carefully aligned to ensure stability and aesthetic perfection.
As the granite base took its place in Kilvey, it transformed the site into a place of solemn reflection, standing as a solid foundation for the artistry to be placed above.
BELOW: The strength of the spider-crane helped steady the fibreglass flagpole while it was felled.
Lifting the granite memorial and manoeuvring it into position.
Positioning the remaining granite panels.
Sealing the entire memorial from the inside.
Fitting the refurbished marble plaques.
The memorial awaiting fitment of the metal sculpture.
The Metalwork
Renowned Welsh blacksmith James Eifion Thomas was commissioned to create a metal sculpture to sit atop the granite base. Drawing inspiration from the soldiers themselves, James hand-crafted 70 intricate poppies, each one representing a life lost.
His artistry brought both beauty and solemnity to the monument, transforming it into a powerful symbol of remembrance.
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The Ceremony
The unveiling ceremony was a fitting tribute to the long and collaborative effort behind the memorial.
Members of the British Army’s 157 Regiment RLC stood alongside representatives from South Wales Police, the Royal British Legion, Swansea Council, and the Lord Mayor of the City and Council of Swansea. Families and local residents gathered as the silver-inlaid verses shone and marble-inscribed names of “The Boys of Old Kilvey” were revealed once more.
Anita Pugh’s years of dedication had finally come to fruition and the sight of the new memorial standing tall in Kilvey was both humbling and inspiring. It was a reminder not only of the cost of war but also of the enduring power of community and remembrance.
