THE MARY WATTS-RUSSELL MEMORIAL CROSS
ILAM, STAFFORDSHIRE

MARY WATTS-RUSSELL (c.1792-1840 ) JESSE WATTS-RUSSELL (1786-1875)

ILAM CROSS 2004

Introduction In a dominant position in the centre of the village of Ilam in the Peak District National Park in Staffordshire, is a striking and beautiful Victorian monument, in the style of an Eleanor Cross. It is  modelled on one of the crosses which Edward I had erected at each stopping place of the body of his queen, Eleanor of Castile, on its progress from Nottinghamshire, where she died, to its tomb in Westminster Abbey, in 1290. Jesse Watts-Russell and the Gothic Revival In the case of Ilam Cross, it was built as a memorial to Mary the wife of Jesse Watts-Russell, the squire of Ilam, when she died in 1840. A product of Gothic Revival architecture in the first half of the nineteenth century, its perfect proportions and graceful carved decoration have earned it great affection and admiration as well as the distinction of a Grade II* listing. It has been described as 'one of the finest Gothic Revival monuments in the country.' For more than a century and half it has become not only an iconic presence for the village community and visitors, but also a work of art of national importance, a status confirmed by its Grade II* listing and inclusion in the English Heritage, Buildings at Risk Register.

The Ravages of Time

When coming across it for the first time, the beauty of Ilam Cross is very striking, but even a cursory inspection makes it obvious that more than 160 years of neglect has caused serious damage and general deterioration. Damage to many features, ranging from large fragments coming loose and some falling off the monument and being lost, to the more insidious gradual erosion of much of the carved decoration, have gravely affected the Cross and are causing great concern. There is also considerable anxiety about possible hidden decay caused by penetration of water into the inner parts of the monument which, if not repaired and prevented, could lead to the structural integrity of the whole monument being compromised.

The Ilam Imp

Fortunately, preserved amid the ruin of many parts of the cross is a small, quaint, carved creature. He peeps from behind the plinth of the allegorical female figure in the statue niche on the south face of the monument. Behind him, in the depths of the niche, he has a scaly, curled tail like an ammonite. Fanciful carved figures were a common feature of medieval buildings and monuments and also appear in illuminated manuscripts and on bench ends and misericords. Many were composed of parts of different creatures and were called chimeras and prominent powerful tails were a frequent feature. The sculptor, Richard Westmacott, probably included this amusing creature as an authentic medieval embellishment on this Gothic Revival monument. The Ilam Imp is the mascot for the Trust.

Tragedy in the '60s A major disaster in the early 1960s occurred when a particularly violent storm blew down the top stage - which had already been severely weakened by the previous gradual destruction of six elegant, slender reinforcing buttresses. At the time, Mr. Wendell Holmes was unable to trace any owners and eventually paid out of his own pocket for a sandstone re- placement stage in a highly simplified style, which clashes violently with the original design by the little known architect, John Macduff Derick. Fortunately there are several good photographs of the cross before the disaster. There is also an engraving, made in 1845, only a few years after the Cross was built.

Engraving 1845

19th century Photograph

Temporary 1960s replacement

What can be done?

As long ago as April 2000 a detailed survey of the state of the monument's structural condition and that of the carved stonework was carried out under the auspices of English Heritage, in preparation for deciding upon a programme of work for its repair, conservation and preservation. Unfortunately, the campaign to raise the necessary funds was blocked by the fact that, despite extensive research, it had not been possible to establish who owned the monument. Without ownership, or the agreement of the unknown 'owner', major grant-making authorities would not be ready to consider supporting the project.

A breakthrough

Fortunately, in September 2003, the Peak District National Park Authority (the local planning authority) came to the rescue and agreed that, provided we had formed a charitable trust and had raised the funds needed for the completion of the programme of work on the memorial, the Authority would then make a compulsory purchase order to acquire ownership of the Cross and would then convey it to the Ilam Cross Trust for repair, conservation and preservation. The Ilam Cross Trust Ltd. was incorporated in November 2003 and registered with the Charity Commission in January 2004.

Designing the scheme

During 2004, the Trustees appointed Dr. Charles Brown, of the Brown Matthews Partnership in Warwick, as Consulting Architect and he prepared a detailed report and specification of work proposed to repair and conserve the monument. In addition to extensive careful cleaning of soot and associated sulphating in the recesses, restoration of some carved features will be carried out and much loose stonework will be pegged and joints pointed, to ensure the exclusion of rain water from the body of the structure. For this purpose the statues will be taken down and conserved in a workshop. The principal intervention will be the replacement of the top stage with a replica of the original stage, the design of which will be painstakingly copied from early photographs. The specification of work was approved by English Heritage in September 2004.

Getting tenders for the work

The Consulting Architect, who is supervising the entire programme, invited tenders from a number of conservation contractors, who made tenders in January 2005. Eight conservation contractors tendered and, at a meeting in February, the Trustees unanimously approved the tender from Acanthus Stone Restoration - though the work cannot be started until all the money needed has been raised.

The fundraising campaign

With the architect's fees, contingency and VAT included, the expected total cost of the work on the Cross will be £178,000 and more funds will be needed to endow future guardianship.The first phase of the campaign was started in November 2004, with the production of a public appeal leaflet/donation form, which is being distributed widely and has raised several thousands of pounds, valuable resources for mounting the appeal. A special brochure has been produced and sent out to many grant-making trusts and foundations and has met with great success, having raised over £46,000, of promises. It is also necessary for the Trust to raise large sums as matching funds and we need cash donations to fund the expenses of making applications and to run the Charity.

We hope that you may be willing to help our campaign with a donation.
If so, there are several ways of doing so:-

You can donate, using a secure web payment
and automatic currency conversion
with a credit card.

Just press the PayPal 'Donate' button.

CLICK HERE and Download a donation form. OR

Write to theThe Ilam Cross Trust, 99 BETHWIN ROAD, LONDON SE5 0YR, UK
and ask for a donation form. OR

Call the Trust at +44 (0)20 7701 0595 and ask for a donation form. OR

Email admin@ the-ilam-cross-trust.org.uk, including your Name and Address and request a donation form. OR

If you pay UK Income Tax by Self Assessment
and are due repayment of Tax,
you can allocate some or all of the repayment
to the Trust using our unique code
JAR74YG.
[See Q.19A on the Self Assessment form.]
The donation will be transferred directly
from the Inland Revenue
to our bank account.
If you tick box 19A.5 they will notify us of your name and address
so we can thank you personally.

ALSO

For a complete history of Ilam Cross CLICK HERE.

For a biographical sketch of the little known architect, John Macduff Derick, who designed Ilam Cross CLICK HERE.

The Ilam Cross Trust
A Company limited by guarantee No. 4978686, registered in England and Wales.
Registered Charity No. 1101384.

© Copyright Phil Mottram 2004 Email: phil-mottram@the-ilam-cross-trust.org.uk