WAR heroes have been remembered with honour a special ceremony.

Residents gathered on Sunday to mark the centenary of Knutsford & District War Memorial.

Rev Alex Bradley of Brook Street Unitarian Chapel led a re-dedication ceremony.

Fundraisers and volunteers who built and supported the war memorial over the past century attended.

The memorial on Northwich Road opened in August 1922.

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Local landowner and Freemason Cuthbert Warren, of Tabley Hall, donated land to create the former cottage hospital as a First World War memorial.

Campaigners have been fighting to save the memorial since the cottage hospital closed in 1990.

Cheshire East Council approved a scheme by McCarthy and Stone for 46 retirement homes to be built on the site three years ago.

The mayor of Knutsford, Cllr Stewart Gardiner, spoke about the importance of keeping a place of remembrance ‘in the hands of local residents’.

Sally Aspin, granddaughter of Clement Lowe, one of the original trustees, who helped to plan, build and endow the memorial shared her feelings.

Knutsford Guardian: Sally Aspin, granddaughter of the founder of the war memorial shares her concernsSally Aspin, granddaughter of the founder of the war memorial shares her concerns

She expressed her concern about the historic site being under risk of demolition.

Veryan Roxby, a relative of memorial founder Mr Warren, spoke with sadness that anyone should feel they can take land dedicated by her relative as the community’s war memorial.

Knutsford Guardian: Fundraisers, residents and volunteers join the mayor of Knutsford for the rededication ceremonyFundraisers, residents and volunteers join the mayor of Knutsford for the rededication ceremony

Freeman Gerald Norden, who lays a wreath on every Remembrance Day, pledged his continued support for the monument.

Knutsford Guardian: Names of the fallen have been placed around the memorial tabletNames of the fallen have been placed around the memorial tablet

Charlotte Peters Rock, who has led the campaign, said: “I feel it needs to be returned to this community of residents of the 18 parishes under a community trust, with reparations made both to the building’s structure and to residents, by those who sought to deprive us of the use of our own war memorial.

“We need to retain this cherished memorial.”