Ainsdale War Memorial

MATERIALS: Stoke Hall stone.

DESCRIPTION: Ainsdale War Memorial consists of a Celtic-style wheel-head cross set on a tapering shaft and decorated with carved interlacing knot work in relief on both sides. On the horizontal arms of the cross on both sides are inscribed with the dates: 1914-1919. The cross rises from a tapering square plinth set on a three-stepped base. The inscriptions are all in lead lettering.

On the rear of the plinth is the following: TRUE LOVE/ BY LIFE -/ TRUE LOVE/ BY DEATH -/ IS TRIED;/ LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND/ WE FOR ENGLAND DIED.

On the remaining three sides of the plinth are the names of the fallen from the First World War, arranged in alphabetical order and preceded by 1914-1918. On the step at the top of the plinth prior to the first list of names is inscribed: REMEMBER.

An inscription on the top two steps of the base reads: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. ERECTED BY THE RESIDENTS,/ AS A MARK OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION.

A later dedication can be found at the bottom of the shaft on the rear face and reads: IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SECOND/ WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945.

The lower step carries further names of the fallen from the First World War as well as those from the Second World War and from later conflicts.

The memorial is set within a paved enclosure bounded by low dry-stone walls with stone capping and furnished with stone pillars and an iron gate at its entrance.