Unfortunately official figures have never been released but unofficial sources estimate some 27,541 benches were removed, many form the London area and such Spa towns as Bath, Harrogate and Leamington. Unfortunately, like many of the railings that were removed at the same time, the iron was generally of the wrong type and therefore, like the railings, many sat discarded and moldering in warehouses and scrap yards for a long time.

It is still unknown what eventually happened to many thousands of theses beautifully wrought and manufactured benches. Most records disappeared when the offices housing these records were badly damaged during the blitz.

Songs were made up and played on the radio to encourage people to 'Do their bit for the war effort.' songs such as

'My benches have all been surrendered,
The teapot is gone from the hob,
The colander's leaving the cabbage,
For a very much different job.
So now, when I hear on the wireless
Of Hurricanes showing their mettle,
I see, in a vision before me,
A Dornier chased by my kettle.'

As one bench historian* has recently pointed out...

'Frequently their modern replacements are inappropriate in style, proportion workmanship and materials, and are often an intrusion of work of low quality into an otherwise high quality historic environment.

As regards appropriate design, while there may be little remaining evidence for what was there, the little evidence that does remain can be significant in enabling original design or type of bench to be determined. First then may we offer to survey and report on each case with reference to archaeological evidence and historical precedent.'