Clitheroe War Memorial

The Clitheroe War Memorial is a first World War memorial dating from 1923, with later additions commemorating the Second World War and incorporating a relocated Boer War memorial. It was designed by LF Roslyn for Clitheroe Corporation.

The memorial is constructed of white granite and bronze and stands within the grounds of the Grade I-listed Clitheroe Castle, below the keep, situated within a stone-paved memorial garden enclosed by low stone walls with steps. It faces east. The monument consists of a bronze statue depicting a Grenadier Guard in battle order, bowing his head and resting his hands on his reversed rifle. The statue is signed LF Roslyn RBS on the front edge of its base. The pedestal is topped with an ashlar cornice, standing on a quarry-faced granite shaft. A central ashlar plaque on the front face bears an inscription in incised lettering with black fill, commemorating the residents of Clitheroe who died in the Great War of 1914-1918. The ashlar plinth tapers outwards on all sides. A bronze plaque on the front face lists the names of those who died in the Second World War (1939-1945) alphabetically by surname, with some names displayed on smaller, attached labels. Three bronze plaques on the returns and rear face list the names of the First World War casualties in similar fashion.

The Boer War memorial is fixed to a stone wall set behind the main memorial, enclosed within a stone architrave with a lintel cornice and ashlar infill, and has a stone shelf below the plaque and a lintel above. The plaque has a bossed border, displays the town’s arms flanked by four laurel wreaths, and an inscription attributing its placement to Alderman J.T. Whipp, Mayor, to perpetuate the memory of those from the Borough of Clitheroe who lost their lives in the Boer War of 1899-1902. Below this are the names of six servicemen listed in order of their deaths, including their ranks, units, location, and date. Further names commemorate volunteers from the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, also with ranks, place and date of death. This plaque is dated August 1907 and bears the maker’s name from Manchester. Finally, a small plaque commemorates a soldier lost in the Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1972.