A canine memorial dating back over a century has been repaired at a Nottingham green space following a criminal act four years prior.
The headstone marking the final resting place of Faithful Old Tim at Woodthorpe Grange Park had been toppled by vandals in 2022, prompting local supporters to seek its restoration.
The canine was owned by individuals who previously owned the estate encompassing the Grange and Woodthorpe, and the initial marker had occupied that spot prior to the land becoming a public recreation area in 1922.
Tim was laid to rest beside his sister Polly, who had passed away several months before him. Both monuments have featured prominently in historical tours conducted at the park.
Following the vandalism, a four-year effort to reinstate the original burial site commenced. The replacement was eventually reproduced and engraved, with the fresh headstone placed at the park on July 9.
Peter Wood, vice chair of the Friends of Woodthorpe Grange Park collective that tends to the grounds, stated that despite the damage caused, the situation had now been resolved. He noted the memorial holds significance to visitors and that children participating in heritage walks find it captivating due to the rarity of canine burials within parks.
After attempting and failing to restore the stone independently, the volunteer group reached out to a funeral service provider but discovered the estimate was beyond their budget. The organisation subsequently connected with James Whitbread, a craftsman operating from Sherwood through his business Whitbread Restoration.
Wood recounted that upon sharing the background of the monument, Whitbread expressed keen interest and offered to carry out the work without charge, explaining he frequented the park himself and wished to contribute. Natural Cut Stone provided York stone as a contribution to the project.
The volunteer group has indicated the new material will offer greater resilience against any future attempts at vandalism. Wood observed that Polly’s stone had been constructed from thicker material, which explained why Tim’s had been susceptible to being knocked over.