Colne War Memorial

War Memorial, designed by T H Hartley, Borough Engineer. Portland stone and sandstone with grey and black marble floor and plaques of grey marble and bronze.

PLAN: rectangular, flat-roofed structure set on a sloping base with central steps up to the open colonnades at the front and back, blind end walls, and a central Stone of Remembrance.

DESCRIPTION: the front, south elevation faces onto Albert Road. It is slightly raised on a shallow, sloping base of squared sandstone of differing sizes with three shallow, central steps. The elevation is a three-bay Portland stone colonnade with square outer pilasters and two free-standing square columns of Portland stone set on sandstone bases, all with plainly moulded square capitals supporting an entablature. The frieze has an inscription in raised lettering which says ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE. The east end wall is blind with a sandstone plinth and square outer pilasters with sandstone bases. The frieze has the inscription GREAT WAR 1914-1918. The wall has a relief carving of the Colne coat of arms and motto. The back, north elevation is similar to the front elevation. The frieze has the inscription ‘AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM’. The west end wall is blind with a sandstone plinth and square outer pilasters with sandstone bases. The frieze has the inscription ’LEST WE FORGET’ The wall has a relief carving of the Lancashire coat of arms and motto.

Within the memorial the floor has a geometric pattern in grey and black marble. The ceiling has moulded panels. Both end walls have two tall, inset, grey marble panels with a roll-call of the First World War casualties. The west wall has a small, attached marble plaque between the two original plaques inscribed with the name J. BAXTER. In the centre of the floor is a large Stone of Remembrance with a deep, moulded plinth and shaped cap. Both sides are inscribed 1939-45. Beneath are bronze plaques naming the Second World War casualties in raised lettering. The south side has a single, large plaque. The north side has one large plaque with two smaller plaques below.