War Memorial

The war memorial was erected in 1921 and extended in 1951. It comprises a rock-faced stone obelisk with chiselled margins, set on a square plinth bearing inscriptions and the names of those who died in the First World War. The memorial is raised on four steps of rock-faced stone. Behind the obelisk is a stepped wall of dressed stone bearing inscriptions and the names of those who died in the Second World War. The obelisk inscription reads: IN MEMORY OF LUDDENDEN FOOT MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918. It continues: THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM. ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTIONS, JULY 1921. A later inscription states: THIS MEMORIAL WAS REVERENTLY TRANSFERRED FROM "THE MOUNT OF REMEMBRANCE" IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC MANDATE AND BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION REDEDICATED 7TH JULY 1951. Other sides of the obelisk list the names of the fallen, concluding with the inscription THEY SLEEP WITH ENGLAND'S HEROES IN THE WATCHFUL CARE OF GOD. The central wall inscription reads: THIS MEMORIAL GARDEN WAS PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION IN SACRED MEMORY OF LUDDENDEN FOOT MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945, THESE GAVE THEIR BEST SO WE OUR BEST SHOULD GIVE. Plaques on either side of the wall bear the names of those who died. Originally erected in a different location, the "Mount of Remembrance", in 1921, the obelisk was moved, re-erected and rededicated in its present position in 1951 with the addition of the Second World War element.