Liverpool Cenotaph

Liverpool Cenotaph

First World War cenotaph built between 1927 and 1930, designed by architect Lionel Budden with low-relief bronze sculptures by Herbert Tyson Smith. Second World War dates were added later. The monument is constructed of Stancliffe stone in a simple rectangular block form, 35 feet long, which references an altar or tomb.

The Cenotaph is positioned at the centre of the Plateau, aligned north-east to south-west, mirroring the alignment of the adjacent St George's Hall to the west. It sits upon a 61-foot-long platform of Yorkshire Silex stone with its long sides facing north-west and south-east. The platform was designed to provide an effective setting for the monument and a protected space for wreaths, with terminal blocks at each end and low steps between them providing access to the Cenotaph.

The north-west face, fronting St George's Hall, incorporates a bronze panel over 31 feet long in low relief, repeated on the opposite face with different imagery. This north-west panel represents "the march to action of the fighting services", depicting a continuous stream of marching troops in serried ranks moving collectively like automata. Their dress, weapons and equipment denote the different armed forces, but all possess similar facial characteristics so that they are barely individualised, reflecting both the vast numbers of the dead and the unity of the nation. Above the relief is the inscription "AS. UNKNOWN. AND. YET. WELL. KNOWN. AS. DYING. AND. BEHOLD. WE. LIVE" (II Corinthians 6: 9), with below it "OUT. OF. THE. NORTH. PARTS. A. GREAT. COMPANY. AND. A. MIGHTY. ARMY" (Ezekiel 38: 15). The signature "THE MORRIS-SINGER CO/ LONDON SWI/ FOUNDERS" appears at the bottom left corner of the relief.

The north-east and south-west end faces are identically styled, each incorporating a symbol of defence to the centre consisting of a large circular bronze shield bearing the coat of arms of Liverpool with festoons below. The dates "1914 1919" are inscribed below in stylised numerals, with a later inscription above in the same style recording "1939 1945". The year 1919 is recorded because although hostilities ceased on Armistice Day, 11 November 1918, peace settlements with Germany and her allies were not signed until 28 June 1919, with Britain's "Peace Day" Victory Parade taking place on 19 July 1919.

The south-east face, fronting Lime Street, incorporates a bronze panel representing the commemoration of Armistice Day. It depicts mourners of all ages in contemporary 1920s dress grouped around a Stone of Remembrance where they are laying flowers and wreaths with their heads bowed, an elderly man stifling a sob as they advance forward. Background imagery shows row upon row of war graves in a military cemetery receding into the distance and infinity. Above the relief is the inscription "TO. THE. MEN. OF. LIVERPOOL. WHO. FELL. IN. THE. GREAT. WAR", with an additional later inscription immediately below reading "AND. ALL. WHO. HAVE. FALLEN. IN. CONFLICT. SINCE". Below the relief is "AND. THE. VICTORY. THAT. DAY. WAS. TURNED. INTO. MOURNING. UNTO. ALL. THE. PEOPLE" (II Samuel 19: 2). The signature "LIONEL E BUDDEN ARCHITECT" appears at the bottom left corner with "H. TYSON SMITH SCULPTOR" at the bottom right corner.