Blackpool War Memorial

Blackpool War Memorial

This is a Grade II* listed First World War memorial with additional inscriptions commemorating the Second World War and later 20th century conflicts. Originally erected in 1923 by the County Borough of Blackpool, it was designed by architect Ernest Prestwich with bronze sculptures by Gilbert Ledward.

The memorial consists of a tall granite obelisk standing on a square pedestal, itself set on a three-tier plinth and stepped platform, all constructed in white granite with Graeco-Egyptian ornament. The base of the obelisk features a raised band of incised Greek key pattern, with an overlaid laurel wreath at the centre of each side. The wreaths on the front and rear (east and west) faces are inset with coats of arms.

The front and rear faces of the pedestal break forward slightly, each carrying a broad raised panel framed in stylised palm branches. These panels are inscribed: IN MEMORY OF / OUR / GLORIOUS DEAD / 1914 -1918 / 1939 - 1945.

The north and south faces display finely modelled bronze relief panels by Ledward. The south panel, labelled 1914, depicts Britannia as Justice, surrounded by young men—some in uniform, others leaving their trades to enlist. A pregnant woman holding a child observes from the left. The north panel, labelled 1918, shows Peace holding a dove and wreath with bowed head. To the left stand war-weary soldiers before an artillery piece and a dead German soldier. The right side depicts a grieving woman and man, a grieving nurse, a girl with her cat, and a bare-chested youth in martial pose with rifle. The reliefs extend around the returns of the front and rear pedestal faces as sentinel figures flanking the inscribed panels: a pair of soldiers at the front, and an airman and seaman at the rear.

Two free-standing granite structures based on Edwin Lutyens' Stone of Remembrance project from the north and south sides of the platform. Their outward faces are inscribed respectively THEIR NAME LIVETH / FOR EVERMORE and LEST WE FORGET. Each has a shallow-pitched lid of cast bronze with antifixae, divided into 16 panels with bead-and-reel frames bearing the names of the fallen. They are enclosed by a bronze balustrade with lion masks at the post heads.

A third granite structure with a single sloping cast bronze lid abuts the front of the plinth, inscribed with the names of the 616 dead of the Second World War. The memorial also names the fallen from post-war conflicts including the Aden Troubles and the Falkland Islands Conflict.

To the east stands a semi-circular singers' platform, known as the 'choir loft', installed in 2008 and dedicated to those who struggle for freedom in all conflicts. Built in white granite with a contrasting band of blue granite, it is inscribed: SING SOFTLY. BE STILL. CEASE. This forms an integral part of the ensemble.

The memorial is enclosed by granite kerbs with a series of low, tapering granite posts and chain links. The southern entrance is flanked by squat cruciform piers, each with a bronze lion mask roundel on the front face, surmounted by a fluted bronze column with acanthus leaf ornament and a globe lamp.