Syston War Memorial Clock Tower

The memorial clock tower Syston, built to the design of Fogg, Son and Holt of Liverpool, sculpted by Edward Owen Griffith and with a clock by Gent and Co. of Leicester, was unveiled on 17 December 1921 attended by Duke of Rutland and dedicated by Rev T R Avery. Built in Storeton sandstone, the tower stands on a stepped base of Yorkshire stone, with low square-plan piers at each corner. The hammer-dressed stone plinth is in contrast to the slightly tapering tower of dressed stone. The tower is of neoclassical style in its proportions and decorative detailing, with chamfered rustication to the quoins, dentiled decoration and fret work beneath the broad overhanging cornice. Above the cornice, the tower narrows with a clock face on two sides and a carved lion to the top. Beneath the cornice, bronze plaques to each side are engraved with the names of those who lost their lives during the First World War and the Second World War. Carved laurel wreaths are positioned above each plaque with decorative lamps on brackets by Art Metal Works of Leicester, to two sides. The whole is enclosed by modern iron railings.

The principal dedicatory inscription reads TO THE/ HONOURED/ MEMORY/ OF THOSE/ FROM/ THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ FOR FREEDOM/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-18/ AND THE/ WORLD WAR/ 1939-45. The names of the 82 men who lost their lives in the First World War and the 45 who died during Second World War are listed in order of their surname.

Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that the iron railings enclosing the memorial are not of special architectural or historic interest. .