Bretherton War Memorial

First World War memorial of 1921 with additional names of the Second World War.

MATERIALS: granite memorial cross, Portland stone plinth, slate plaques, granite bollards and red sandstone base.

DESCRIPTION: prominently-sited in a small memorial garden at the junction of Carr House Lane and Eyes Lane. The memorial stands on a paved area edged to the front by granite posts and link chain.

The memorial faces east. A Latin cross carved on its front face with a reversed sword rises on a square plinth with slate plaques on the front and sides. The plinth sits on a two-stepped base. The bottom step has a riser of random-coursed, quarry-faced red sandstone, and a Portland stone top with a cavetto moulding. Inset at all four corners are square granite bollards with dome-centred tops. The upper step is plain Portland stone. The plinth has a cornice and pyramidal top, and the foot of the cross splays on all four sides.

The plaque on the front face is incised: IN GLORIOUS MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN OF BRETHERTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918.

The plaques on the side faces carry (below a small cross) the list of names from the First World War. These are listed, starting on the south face, alphabetically by surname, with ranks, units and service numbers.

Below the main dedication is a small plaque which reads 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES). These names are possibly listed in order of falling, or alphabetically by Christian name, and no ranks or units are given.