12 replies to this topic

[brucehubbard]

Does anyone know if there are plans in and around Mons to do up and clean the important sites around the town?
I ask having visited a number of them last weekend, and was slightly less than underwhelmed.
On either side of the road at Casteau are plaques commemmorating the first and last shots of the war (so far as the British are concerned). The first shot plaque is high on a plinth, in need of a clean, and difficult to read. If you can find somewhere to park, there is a main road to cross, taking one's life in one's hands, to see the plaque marking the last shot. It is on the wall of an apparently long closed hotel, and also needs a good clean.
The plaque to the unknown Middlesex soldier who held off the Germans at Obourg Station is more difficult. If you follow your satnav, you drive miles through a cement works. You then get to a brick wall, with the plaque mounted on it. That is all there is. If you cross the railway, via the footbridge, the conrete on some of the steps has given way and is dangerous.
At Nimy, the plaques under the railway bridge to mark the first two VCs awarded are also in need of a clean. There is a path up the side of the embankment to the railway bridge (was I trespassing?) and a footpath alongside the tracks. the concrete there also doesn't feel safe.
There are a further two memorials at La Bascule. Again, there is nowhere to park and both could do with a clean.
Surely something is to be done to renovate these important places and memorials?

Bruce

[brucehubbard]

No comments?

Bruce

[Pighills]

Yes, you spelt commemorating wrong - otherwise, nicely written and very informative

[Roger H]

Bruce

I guess that Mons is off the beaten track for the majority of WW1 "tourists" and so the relevant custodians of the plaques don't (unfortunately) bother.  Shame.

Roger

[Chris_Baker]

Mons has been that way for many years. There was an attempt back in the 1980's to jazz up the WW1 sites a bit (some of the signs from a Mons battlefield circuit still exist from that time) but it soon lapsed. As Roger says it does not generate too much visitor traffic but a failure to keep things fresh and developing makes it all a bit of a vicious circle. It needs some love, attention and the sort of marketing money that Flanders spends.

[brucehubbard]

I got the impression that some sort of effort had been made some time ago, as some of the sites have large white boards with Site Number 1, 2 etc. However, they had obviously been there for some time, and some of the lettering has worn off.
It looked as if there had been a planned route, so I asked in the Tourist Office in the centre of town, but they knew nothing about it.
Surely Mons must recognise that there will be some interest in two years time?

Bruce
(oh! The ignomany! My spelling being corrected by a Yorkshirewoman!!)

[Pighills]

I cannot understand why Mons isn't on people's 'route' when they go over, apart from it being out of the way of course.  I wish I'd realised it's importance when James and I went there (to visit a cemetery on behalf of a friend), I would certainly have taken more notice and visited a few more palces there (the ones which Bruce has pointed out above).

Actually Bruce, I'm not a Yorkshire woman,  my family are from Manchester, but I was born in Macclesfield (Cheshire).

[brucehubbard]

I took some time going around the relevant sites listed above, if only to see where a coach could set down passengers, and which roads had weight limits upon them.
I couldn't help thinking that if the area was in Flemish Belgium a lot more would have been made of these important sites.
To get around them all, and have time to rub the head of the monkey in Mons (no....that is not being rude....and it should be done left handed), takes under two hours.
Anyone any idea to whom I should address my concerns in the Wallonian government?

Bruce

[Roger H]

Bruce

Steve Marsdin might be able to help. His wife is Belgian and I am sure she is Wallonian rather than Flemish.

Roger

[Chris_Baker]

You could make the point and ask Hainaut Tourisme: http://www.hainautto...id,50/formid,1/

[yvan]

Hello,

I live in Mons. to be precise near Mons, St. Symphorien.
I know very well the various monuments ... communal cemetery, cemetery plaques (German-English) Saint-Symphorien ... etc. ..

If you need pictures, no problem I can do this for you.

Nice day to all,
Yvan.

PS: I agree ... the city of Mons should make an effort !!

Ps: sorry for my bad english .. :-)

[flintwich]

I went on my first Beer and Battlefields trip 3 years ago and it included Mons.
The coach dropped us off near the market square before a short walk to the Dease/Godley canal bridge.
We were also dropped off right next to the Last shot plaque, leaving the coach by the "safe side" door.
No problems at either St Symphorien or Obourg, apart from the cement factory tour.
Yes, Mons is a bit off the beaten track but a lovely place with numerous excellent cafes around the square.

Al

[brucehubbard]

I agree that it is a bit off the usual beaten track for British visitors, but with the centenary approaching, I was hoping that Mons would have some plans to clean the monuments, repair the railway bridges at Nimy and Obourg, and generally make an effort to attract visitors to so important a collection of sites.
The town centre in Mons is fine with plenty of choice of places to eat, but I would have thought that the local authorities would have some plans for 2014.

Bruce