Poole Municipal War Memorial

POOLE

958-1/0/10039 POOLE PARK 23-SEP-09 Poole Municipal War Memorial

II War memorial. 1927. Designed by J.A. Allner (1884-1955). Purbeck stone and red brick. A tall cross set in a red brick tapering column upon a plinth. It stands on a raised platform surrounded by a low brick wall and three steps. The north face of the cross is inscribed: '1914/ 1918'. The south face is inscribed 1939/ 1945'. The plinth is inscribedTHEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE WE WILL REMEMBER THEM'. Stone detailing includes scallop shells and dolphins (from the Poole coat of arms) at the top of the memorial.

HISTORY: Designed by James A. Allner and unveiled on 16th October 1927 to commemorate the men of the town who were killed in the First World War. Further inscriptions were added to those who died in the Second World War. Allner designed a number of other buildings in Poole. The memorial is surrounded by formal gardens and hedging, and is approached from the north via a flagged pathway. This path leads to a set of ornate wrought iron gates at the entrance to the park. Poole Park also contains further individual memorials to the Burma Star Association (added after the Second World War) and Lord Mountbatten (late C20).

REASON FOR DESIGNATION: The war memorial at Poole Park is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons: * It has strong cultural and historical significance within both a local and national context * It forms a poignant reminder of the effects of tragic world events on this local community * Although a simple monument, it is an elegant and dignified memorial that contributes to the village street scene

SOURCES War Memorials Trust, Bulletin, Summer 2008

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 7 December 2016.