Rawtenstall Cenotaph

First World War Memorial of 1929, by L F Roslyn in shap granite and bronze.

The Cenotaph takes the form of a needle rising from a base of three square steps, with a square plinth, bas-relief panels and a granite obelisk. It forms the focal point of the Library Gardens between Rawtenstall Library and St Mary's Parish Church.

The square steps are of granite, with the centre stone of each side of the top step and the upper surface on which the plinth rests subtly whiter. The plinth has two further steps rising to its square base, which has an ovolo moulding with a cavetto above and is carved with a wreath and garland on the east and west faces, and torus upper moulding. The south face has a bronze plaque with the inscription:

A TRIBUTE OF HONOUR/ TO THE MEN WHO/ MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ TO THE MEN WHO CAME BACK/ AND TO THOSE WHO WORKED AT HOME/TO WIN SAFETY FOR THE EMPIRE/ 1914-1918

The north face has a plaque with the inscription:

TO THE MEMORY OF/ ALL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE/ OF THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE SECOND/ WORLD WAR 1939-45/ ALL WHO SERVED ON SEA, LAND OR IN THE AIR/ AND ALL WHO WORKED AND SERVED AT HOME/ 1939-1945

Above is the bronze bas relief, signed LF Roslyn RBS, depicting members of the Armed Forces in high relief on each angle, guarding civilian workers in lower relief between. The panels depict:

South: Soldier (at left angle), Women’s Land Army, Women’s Forestry Service, woman and child, Women’s Royal Naval Service.

West: Airman (at left angle), Voluntary Aid Detachment, nurse, munitions worker, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.

North: Royal Army Medical Corps (at left angle), labourers, fisherman, Special Constable.

East: Sailor (at left angle), miner, postman, railwayman, mechanic.

The reliefs are surmounted by a square granite obelisk with twice-stepped top. At the top of the south face is a bronze of a palm leaf with a garlanded wreath, symbols of victory and commemoration.