Memorial details

Memorial type
Cenotaph
District
Rochdale
Town
Rochdale
County
Greater Manchester
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Non-Specific Conflict
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 26 November 1922
    Attended by: Earl (17th) Of Derby
  • Dedicated
    Date: 26 November 1922
    Attended by: Archdeacon of Rochdale
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
2022

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Current location

Opposite the town hall
Memorial Gardens
The Esplanade
Rochdale
Rochdale
Greater Manchester
OL16 1AR
England

OS Grid Ref: SD 89528 13316
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
The memorial has two elements constructed in light grey Cornish granite, which are sited on a three step platform set within a square paved area with cast iron lamps at the corners. The principal element, running roughly South to North, is a 10 metre pylon raised by a further six steps, which reduces in width as it gains height, culminating in a sarcophagus bearing a carving of a recumbent soldier draped in his greatcoat. On the sides are carved flags painted with the colours of the four Services - to the West the White Ensign, representing the Royal Navy, and the Union flag representing the Army, and to the East the Royal Air Force ensign and the Red Ensign, representing the Merchant Navy. Gilded laurel wreathes are hung from the tops of the gilded flag poles, and the town's Coat of Arms is carved on both sides of the pylon behind the tops of the flags, within a laurel wreath . The dates of the World Wars are incised and gilded between the sets of flags - in Arabic numerals to the West, and Roman numerals to the East. There are gilded incised inscriptions on the convex North and South faces, and a cast bronze plaque, a later addition, on the South face. A Stone of Remembrance, raised a further three steps, runs East to West to the South front of the cenotaph and carries a gilded inscription. The memorial area was originally flanked by two lawned areas but the garden area was greatly extended northwards after WW2 when a sunken Garden of Remembrance was created (WMR 100911) as the town's WW2 Memorial. There are a number of separate memorial stones and benches sited within the garden areas.
Inscription
Incised on the South face, opposite the town hall: They were a wall/ unto us both by/ night and by day On the bronze plaque beneath: To all those who died/ in the/ service of their country North face: To the memory/ of the men of/ rochdale/ who/ gave their lives/ in the Great War West face: 1914 - 1919/ and 1939 - 1945 East face: MCMXIV/ - MCMXIX/ et/ MCMXXXIX/ - MCMXLV On the Stone of Remembrance: Their name liveth/for evermore
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Non-Specific Conflict
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Base
    Measurements: depth 9000MM, width 19000MM
    Materials: Granite - Cornish
  • Cenotaph
    Measurements: height 9600MM
    Materials: Granite - Cornish
  • Stone of remembrance
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite - Cornish
Listing information
  • Rochdale Cenotaph
  • Grade I
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
Cleaning and repainting to be carried out soon as of oct 1998. Ornamental Lamps to be restored.
Costs

Site: £12,611

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Reference
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • Borough of Rochdale, Unveiling of the Rochdale War Memorial, Sunday 26th November 1922 (booklet)

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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