Condition Survey 2002 - the condition of the stonework is good but missing stone flags at the base of the monument have been replaced, quite inappropriately, with concrete. The steps have been repaired with cement mortar. The memorial has clearly been frequently vandalised by spray graffiti. Recommendations - cement repairs should be cut out and repairs carried out with care. Concrete flags should be replaced with stone. Graffiti should be removed {1}. Condition survey 2011 - the condition of the stonework is generally fair but there are many open joints to the amin shaft. There is evidence of modern stone indenting work which has not been tooled. There are traces of previous graffiti removal from the obelisk and plinth. There is recent graffiti on the north and west faces. The shallow-cut plinth inscription is almost illegible in places and the top line of letters have been coloured in with red paint or crayon. The whole of the obelisk is suffering from light biological growth. One stone in particular on the NW corner of the obelisk has been badly chipped along with several small chips to each of the corners at the lower part of the obelisk and plinth, probably impact damage from parked bicycles. The three levels of sandstone steps are chipped. Open joints are capturing litter and cigarette butts. Vegetation has taken hold between the slabs. Previous repairs to the steps have been done with mortar rather than new stone indents. One broken flag has been replaced with concrete. Recommendations - photographic survey before any works. Removal of lichen and algae using a dental specification steam cleaner and nylon bristle brush. Trials to remove graffiti using various solvents and a dental specification steam cleaner. The open joints should be re-pointed with hydraulic lime mortar. Plastic repairs to main stone chips. Consider cutting the shallow carved inscription on the east face deeper to make it more legible. Modern paving slabs in the podium steps to be replaced with matching sandstone. Make good any cracked or broken slabs, re-point all joints. A new bronze emblem could be cast based on photographic evidence and resin-bonded into the top of the sandstone obelisk. A new bronze plaque could be cast with the original inscription. Consideration should be given to providing a paved approach to the east side for Remembrance ceremonies. Archival research required.

Recommendations 2002 - graffiti should be removed with specialist advice. Consider possibility of applying anti-graffiti coating to facilitate future cleaning. Consider repairs to the limestone angel. Consider improvements to the quality of paving in the immediate vicinity {1}. Condition survey 2011 - the condition of the stonework is generally good. There are traces of graffiti removal from the obelisk and plinth. There are four fingers missing from the right hand. The wreath is missing. Several tips of the wings are missing, probably from projectile assault. The right hand is a replacement. A finial to the flag standard may also be missing (ref West Allotment figure). The east front of the figure is suffering from biological growth (algae and lichen) and industrial pollution. The north west corner of the stepped apex of the obelisk has been chipped. There are several small chips to the corners of the lower part of the obelisk above the base, probably caused by parked bicycles. The half-round moulding to the base is also chipped and the SW and NW corners. The large plinth granite blocks have open joints or contain broken mortar. The 1980s pavement slabs forming the podium are in poor condition with vegetation growing in the open joints and kerb stones dislodged. Recommendations - carry out a detailed photographic survey prior to any works. The similar Nike figure at West Allotment could be used as a model for any repairs. Remove the modern replacement broken hand and wrist and install a new carved limestone hand with fingers. A new bronze wreath could be cast, based on West Allotment. The lichen and algae should be carefully removed using a dental specification steam cleaner and nylon bristle brushes. The pollution soiling can be removed by chemical poultice, stem cleaning or conservation laser. Carve the letters of the inscription deeper to make them legible (lead would be stolen again). Open joints should be re-pointed with lime mortar. Replace the modern concrete kerbs and slabs with limestone steps. The original steps may survive. Archival research is also required.
Condition Survey by Spence & Dower LLP in June 2011 - Portland limestone figure of Nike the Greek goddess of victory. Originally held a laurel wreath (probably bronze) in her raised right arm and a partially furled flag in the crook of her left arm. She stands on a Portland limestone hemisphere on a square base. The figure is 1.4m tall. The figure and base surmounts a tapered grey granite obelisk ending in a truncated stepped pyramidal apex with a St. Cuthbert cross on each face, carved in bas-relief. A shallow inscription on the east face of the obelisk in 2" sans serif upper case, was originally filled with lead semi-raised letters, now missing, but just intelligible. Total height of monument 5.5m. The obelisk sits on a larger grey granite base with half-rounded moulding and nail-head band on top of a larger square grey granite plinth which is surrounded by a podium of modern concrete paving slabs surrounded by a pink tarmac pedestrian area. The original steps have been replaced. On the chamfered top of the west plinth stone was a raised letter inscription probably in bronze letters, now missing. The fixing holes for each letter are visible. The inscription could possibly be deciphered from the position of each fixing hole.

The brick plinth, concrete paving and the indifferent way in which the memorial has been cleaned and repaired detract from its significance. The stonework is in moderate condition. Repairs have been carried out in inappropriate coloured mortar. The type of brick used for the steps is inappropriate as an external floorscape. The concrete paving displays spray paint graffiti. Recommendations - mortar repairs should be cut out and replaced with carefully cut matching stone indents. Consideration should be given to upgrading the floorscape by replacing concrete paving and brick steps with better quality material {1}.

The condition of the memorial is good {1}.

Stonework generally is in sound condition. Stone cleaning has been carried out but is very patchy in character. Unsightly black tidemark round the bronze letters. Many of the stone steps have been displaced, presenting open joints and potential tripping hazard. There is a split in the bronze band around the top of the shaft. One of the inscribed panels round the base of the podium has become partially detached. The bronze wreaths on the podium have been repaired using unsightly glass fibre or similar material. Some unsightly fixing brackets have been used on the inscribed panels. Recommendations - inspect condition of the statue. Repair steps. Clean the stonework. Reappraise the setting of the memorial {2}. The massive stone blocks of the steps forming the column plinth have been repaired and re-set [2005], drawings produced by Spence and Dower Ltd. Much of the damage was caused by skateboarding and rollerblading.

The bronze statue and panels appear to be in good condition. The Portland Stone pedestal has suffered a degree of surface erosion due to atmospheric pollution. There are open mortar joints in various places on the pedestal. Stonework is in generally good condition. Recommendations - carry out minor repairs to mortar joints. Remove metal cables around base of pedestal. Reconsider the need for railings around the memorial and/or the quality of railings provided {2}.

Some deterioration of paving flags. Some of the steps present open mortar joints. The bronze elements are in sound condition. The limestone has suffered erosion from atmosheric pollution. Area of damage to stone at rear of one of the wings. Crude mortar repair to coping of south west wing. Some of the mortar joints have been washed out. Recommendation - small scale stone replacement {2}. In 2005 Bronze Restoration cleaned and conserved the bronze work and coated the statue in a protective silicon wax.

The limestone has suffered light erosion due to atmospheric pollution but is in generally sound condition. Small localised areas of heavy, black sulphation to the undercut areas of the statue which are vulnerable to stone decay. The bronze plaques are crudely fixed with steel bolts which may rust and fracture the stone. The surrounding paving slabs have deteriorated {2}. Condition survey 2008 - search has established the 28 missing names of men who fell in the First World War. A new bronze plaque has been fixed in the tread of the top step, originally in the riser. The limestone has suffered light surface weathering. Vandalism is more significant. The thumb of the left hand is missing. The rifle held in the right hand has been broken away. There are small localised areas of heavy sooting in undercut areas of the statue. The bronze plaques are fixed with stainless metal Rawlbolts, recently fitted. Extensive graffiti in black felt-tip pen. Steps damaged by impact attack. Many cracked paviours. Recommendation - a scheme to upgrade this memorial is in hand, including a guard rail and lighting. The bronze plaque that is missing will be replaced, all bronze will be cleaned, the missing rifle will be replaced with a fibreglass replica.

Slate roof replaced in 2002. An iron grille across the opening prevents access. Monument restored 2003. Condition survey 2008 - stone erosion at low level may be the consequence of salt evaporation from rising damp or road salt splashed up by traffic. A stepped crack through the back wall may mark settlement in the past rather than on-going. A horizontal crack at waist height across the right hand pilaster is a little difficult to explain. Interior is full of leaves and debris. Recommendation - occasional maintenance to remove leaves, restain the timber boarding to the gables every five years, brush down salt damaged stone, inspect to determine if re-pointing is necessary.

The monument is in generally good condition. Minor graffiti damage to the bronze at low level. Bronze elements of the coronet have been distorted and partly detached. Some separation of the bronze sections immediately above stone pedestal. Access plate in back of throne has been partly unscrewed. Joints between pink granite have washed out and need to be refilled. Recommendations - secure access plate and repair coronet (specialist conservator of bronze sculpture). Refill joints to pedestal with hydraulic lime mortar {2}. The bronze was restored and cleaned in 2003. Condition survey 2008 - the monument is generally in good condition and the bronze has been regularly cleaned and waxed in this last quinquennium. Immediately above the stone pedestal there are cracks in the bronze reflecting the jointing of the original components. There is an access plate in the back of the throne but the screws are not fully sunk. Many of the joints between the granite components of the pedestal are open or have loose mortar. The edges along these joints are stained black. Recommendation - rake out loose mortar and joints filled and re-pointed with hydraulic lime mortar colour matched to the staining to avoid damaging stone cleaning. Periodic wiping of bronze and waxing.