Weymouth Cenotaph

The Weymouth Cenotaph is a First World War memorial located on The Esplanade, completed in 1921 and adapted in 1949 to honor those who died in the Second World War. It features a cenotaph-type design made of Portland stone, adorned with bronze plaques.

The memorial consists of a tall, slender pier that is stepped at the top, raised on shallow steps and a rectangular plinth. The upper parts of the pier display wreaths on the northwest and southeast faces, surrounding inscriptions from 1914 to 1919 and a decorative relief depicting Christ being born aloft by angels. Bronze panels on all four sides of the pier list the names of those who died in World War One, with the southeast face also stating the memorial's purpose. The plinth has a stone panel on the northwest face inscribed with a dedication to the citizens of the borough who made the supreme sacrifice during the Second World War, along with three bronze plaques commemorating those who died in that conflict.

The memorial is enclosed by low iron railings. It was unveiled on November 6, 1921, to honor the fallen of the Great War, and additional plaques were added on May 8, 1949, for the victims of World War Two. The Weymouth Cenotaph stands as a significant symbol of the community's response to the tragedies of war and is thoughtfully positioned along the seafront, contributing to its architectural quality and craftsmanship. It also has group value with several nearby listed buildings, including the D-Day Port Memorial to the south.