Monument to remember fallen town’s heroes

A total of 353 men from the town and surrounding area died defending their country.

Memorial trees - one for each fallen hero - were planted at Mill Pond Meadows, opposite the Linpac Packaging factory, off Wakefield Road, last November.

Now, Featherstone Town Council has teamed up with artists CodSteaks and arts company Beam to create a piece of artwork in memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Coun Margaret Isherwood, who started the project, said: “We had 41 artists and art groups apply to create the memorial for us and we whittled them down to a shortlist of six.

“But we chose Codsteaks because we think they’ll do the best job and really take on board people’s ideas.”

Coun Isherwood said the proposals for the monument will go to full council for approval at a meeting on September 9.

The project has been funded through grants thanks to the work of Beam.

Coun Isherwood said: “It is all about remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and that’s very important.

“I have found it really heartwarming the way young people in the town have responded to the plans.

“These hundreds of people may have died 100 years ago but hopefully, thanks to this project, they’ll still be remembered in Featherstone in another 100 years.”

Each memorial tree planted at the site contains have named markers with a poppy, photograph and information about each of the war dead.

Coun Isherwood said: “We want everyone to be aware of why the trees and the artwork are there and understand the importance of what the men who died did.

“Hopefully, the project is doing and will do that.”