War memorial, Court Square, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT23 3NY

This granite war memorial was erected in 1934 to commemorate those who died in the Great War. It is situated in the centre of the landscaped Court Square, southeast of Newtownards town centre. The memorial is approximately 7 metres tall and takes the form of a square, tapering obelisk with a shaped head. Below the obelisk is a panelled surbase and a pedestal base, the whole structure resting on a spreading base of four steps. The north face of the obelisk features a relief carving of a female figure holding an olive branch, presumably symbolising peace, with a bundle of fasces above and a lion’s head motif at the apex. A projecting panel on the north face of the surbase contains a metal inscription, with the names of the fallen of the Great War inscribed on the other faces. The pedestal base has a carved section of the coat of arms of Newtownards, and the names of those who died in the Second World War are inscribed on the remaining faces. The memorial appears to be in good condition and the surrounding landscaped square is well maintained.

The memorial's construction followed a period of local controversy. In the years after 1918, when other towns were erecting memorials, Newtownards Town Council initially declined to fund a monument. In response, some ex-servicemen built a temporary memorial in Court Square from snow, inscribed with "Lest we forget," to pressure the council into action. They were subsequently fined for loitering, and later constructed a wooden memorial on Victoria Avenue. It was not until 1934 that the official granite memorial was finally built.