Colne War Memorial

The Colne War Memorial, designed by T.H. Hartley, Borough Engineer, commemorates those who died in both World Wars. Constructed in Portland stone and sandstone, with a floor and plaques of grey and black marble, the memorial dates to the post-First World War period.

The rectangular, flat-roofed structure is set on a sloping base, with central steps leading to open colonnades at both the front (south) and back (north) elevations. The end walls are blind. The front elevation faces Albert Road and features a three-bay Portland stone colonnade with square outer pilasters and two freestanding square columns on sandstone bases. These columns have plainly moulded square capitals supporting an entablature. The frieze of the front elevation bears the inscription "ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE”. The east end wall is blind, with a sandstone plinth and square pilasters, and features the inscription "GREAT WAR 1914-1918” along with a relief carving of the Colne coat of arms and motto. The north elevation mirrors the front, with the inscription ‘AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM’ on its frieze, and a relief carving of the Lancashire coat of arms and motto. The west end wall is blind, with a sandstone plinth, pilasters, and the inscription ‘LEST WE FORGET’.

Inside, the memorial’s floor displays a geometric pattern of grey and black marble, and the ceiling features moulded panels. Two tall, inset, grey marble panels on the west wall list the casualties of the First World War. A small, attached marble plaque is located between the original two, inscribed with the name J. Baxter. A central Stone of Remembrance stands on a deeply moulded plinth with a shaped cap, inscribed with dates for both World Wars. Bronze plaques beneath list the casualties of the Second World War in raised lettering; a single, large plaque is on the south side, and a large plaque with two smaller plaques is on the north side.