WORCESTER stonemasons have traded a cathedral for a memorial during a restoration project.

The Bishampton memorial, which has pride of place on what remains of the village green in Main Street, has been given much-needed attention for the first time in 80 years by stonemason Darren Steele and his team.

Funding for the work on the memorial, made of Inkberrow sandstone, was supplied by the Bishampton History Society and the War Memorial Trust.

Once completed, the names of those who died in both world wars and who returned after the 1914-18 conflict will again be legible, having faded due to erosion.

Mr Steele is kept busy maintaining the cathedral’s stonework but when Worcester’s landmark building can spare him, he likes to help community projects.

Mike Rickard, chairman of Bishampton History Society, said: “We are very pleased the parish council agreed to support the project and that the memorial is going to be restored by a professional stonemason of Darren’s stature and reputation.

“Our members Peter Jesson and Charles Rigg have done painstaking work over the last year trying to trace the names on the war memorial and we are planning to have a booklet available for the anniversary in 2014.”

Landscaping work has been done to clear the area surrounding the war memorial, financed by Bishampton and Throckmorton Parish Council and Wychavon District Council.

It will provide more air and ventilation and reduce the micro-climate of dampness which Mr Steele said with regular periodic maintenance will delay for the need for further major renovation.

The Rt Rev John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, has agreed to officially re-dedicate the memorial in the autumn when work is complete.

“We are delighted and extremely honoured that Bishop John will be giving his blessing to the memorial and the men who served, especially at this time in history, when the centenary of the Great War is approaching,” Mr Rickard said.