Frodsham War Memorial Gates and Railings

War memorial, gates and railings, erected 1921, dismantled and re-erected in c1946. Materials: cast and wrought iron gates and railings, concrete dwarf walls.

The War Memorial Gates and Railings provide a dignified screened entrance to an avenue approach to the Frodsham War Memorial, which is situated on the crest of Overton Hill. The railings are split into two sections by a pair of principal gates flanked by smaller pedestrian gates; the E section has a curved alignment and the W section has a straight alignment. The E section has eight railing panels, grouped into four pairs, and the W section has 12 railing panels grouped into six pairs. Each panel is stepped in height and rises with the fall of ground from W to E; the pairs of panels are separated by intermediate railing posts with triple shafts and a square framed laurel wreath panel, and each end terminates against a hollow square section terminal post, with a square framed laurel wreath panel on each of the four faces. The opposite ends of the railing sections terminate against a three-shaft railing panel that is attached to the W and E pedestrian gate posts.

The rectangular pedestrian gates are shorter and narrower than the square principal gates. The gates have wrought-iron stile and rail frame construction, with intermediate rails, supporting and holding in place square-profile railing shafts. The interstices between the railing shafts in the lower pair of rails are filled by additional miniature railing shafts. The upper rail of each gate forms a coping, beneath which a further rail forms a rectangular frame; the open frame in the pedestrian gates has a central quatrefoil pierced panel, while the panels in the principal gates contain moulded framed panels that read: THEIR NAME LIVETH / FOR EVER MORE. Open square panels formed within the four gates contain laurel wreaths; each wreath contains a dedication, reading from left to right across the gates: BELLUM / 1914 1918 / 1939 1945 / PAX. The gates are closed by boxed lever latches with ring handles, the principal gates have a decorative drop-bolt and can be held open by weighted ground catches. The entrance from the W pedestrian gate into the park is flanked by a pair of railing screen panels that project at a right-angle. The gates are supported by stylised classical-style hollow bolted cast-iron panel gate-posts, with moulded pedestals, plain capitals and depressed square conical finials. A cast-iron stench pipe with a hinged vane is attached to the rear of the E principal gate post.