Clitheroe War Memorial

First World War memorial of 1923 with additional names of the Second World War and incorporating a relocated Boer War memorial, by LF Roslyn for Clitheroe Corporation.

MATERIALS: white granite, bronze.

PLAN: square pedestal with square plinth on a three-stepped square base.

DESCRIPTION: standing in the grounds (which are a Grade II-registered park) of the Grade I-listed castle below the keep, within a square, stone-paved memorial garden bounded by low stone walls with steps flanked by walls.

The memorial faces east. The statue depicts a Grenadier Guard in battle order with cap, bowing his head and resting his hands on his reversed rifle. It is signed LF Roslyn RBS on the front edge of the base.

The pedestal has an ashlar top with moulded cornice atop a quarry-faced granite shaft. The front face has a central plaque which is inscribed with incised lettering with black fill: ERECTED/ BY/ THE INHABITANTS OF/ CLITHEROE/ IN/ GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF/ THEIR FELLOW TOWNSMEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN DEFENCE OF THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 1918

The plinth is ashlar and batters to all four sides. To its front face is fixed a bronze plaque with relief inscriptions: WORLD WAR II 1939-1945 followed by the names of the Fallen listed alphabetically by surname without ranks, with two names on added labels below the centre two of the four columns.

The First World War Fallen are listed in relief on three bronze plaques to the left and right returns and the rear face, also alphabetically by surname without ranks.

The Boer War memorial is fixed to the stone wall behind the memorial, within a stone architrave with lintel cornice, and ashlar infill. There is a stone shelf below the plaque and a lintel over it. The plaque is in relief with a bossed border and bears the town’s arms flanked by four laurel wreaths and the inscription: THIS MEMORIAL WAS PLACED HERE BY/ ALDERMAN.J.T WHIPP.MAYOR/ TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF HIS FELLOW TOWNSMEN WHO/ WENT FROM THE BOROUGH OF CLITHEROE AND LOST THEIR LIVES IN/ THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA-1899-1902. Below this are the names of six servicemen, listed in order of their falling, with ranks, units and the location and date of their falling.

Below this is the further inscription: AND THE FOLLOWING VOLUNTEERS/ FROM THE ST JOHNS AMBULANCE BRIGADE with two names below, also with ranks and the place and date of their falling.

The plaque is dated August 1907 and has the Manchester makers’ name.

A small plaque also commemorates one soldier lost in the troubles in Northern Ireland in 1972.