Memorial details

Memorial type
Cenotaph
District
Manchester
Town
Manchester
County
Greater Manchester
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 12 July 1924
    Attended by: Earl (17th) of Derby, relatives and friends of the fallen
  • Rededicated
    Date: 06/10/2014
    Attended by: Rt. Revd. David Walker, Bishop of Manchester
  • Dedicated
    Date: July 1924
    Attended by: Rev J G McCormick, Dean of Manchester
  • Show More (2)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
2024

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Current location

St Peters Square next to Lloyd street
St Peters Square
Manchester
Manchester
Greater Manchester
M2 4EG
England

OS Grid Ref: SJ 83966 98024
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Portland stone memorial by Edwin Lutyens, the central feature of which is a pylon surmounted by a moulded and carved catafalque upon which is carved the prone figure of a fighting man covered by his greatcoat. On each of the flank sides is carved the City of Manchester coat of arms encircled by large laurel wreaths, bound and supported by ribbons. On each of the ends are swords in enriched sheaths and the Imperial Crown in bold relief. To the sides of the cenotaph are two obelisks, on which the dates of the Great War are incised within laurel wreathes on the front and rear faces of each. After WW2 the dates of that conflict were inscribed on the side walls of each obelisk. To the front is the Great War Stone, a replica of the Stone of Remembrance, it rests on a surround of three steps. A Garden of Remembrance (WMR 100981) was added after World War 2, within which later commemorative plaques were installed. In 2014 the memorial structures, which were aligned roughly West to East, were dismantled and moved across St Peter's Square, and aligned roughly South to North, as part of an extensive reorganisation and rebuilding project prompted by the need for more space to accommodate the infrastructure for the city's enlarged tram system. North of the main array, within a semi-circular area backed by stone walls and benches, the four additional memorials (WMR 25690, 25438, 13134, and 53708) which were in the WW2 Garden of Remembrance have been installed on small grassed areas, which are divided by a broad pathway in which stones commemorating the centenaries of the awards to the City's six VCs are laid. Two other commemorations have been added to the set - one for Atomic Veterans (WMR 99148), and one for Soviet sacrifices in WW2 (WMR 99147).
Inscription
(On plaque): TO OUR/ FALLEN/ COMRADES/ BRITISH LEGION/ MANCHESTER (North-east side of memorial): TO THE/ HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THOSE WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY (south-east side): O LORD GOD OF OUR/ FATHERS KEEP THIS/ FOREVER IN THE/ IMAGINATION OF THE/ THOUGHTS OF THE/ HEART OF THY PEOPLE (On stone): 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
Components
  • Garden
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Unknown
  • Cenotaph
    Measurements: height 9750mm
    Materials: Stone - Portland
  • Obelisk
    Measurements: height 7010mm
    Materials: Stone - Portland
  • Undefined
    Measurements: width 3650mm
    Materials: Stone - Portland
Listing information
  • Manchester War Memorial
  • Grade II*
  • 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
2011: Proposal advanced to move the cenotaph to allow for the laying of a new tram line. The new location proposed for the cenotaph is an area between the Peace Gardens and the Town Hall. The proposal has been controversial and has caused much debate. October 2011 the proposal was approved by the Council. The removal took place in 2014. 2004: Cleaned 1949: DATES 1939-45 Added to cenotaph, the area around was also laid out as a garden of remembrance for second world war.
Costs

Site: £6,490

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
Manchester City Council
Reference
  • Other website tinyurl.com/674qd6m
  • Private Eye No.1289 (27 May - 9 June 2011) page 14,
  • City of Manchester, Unveiling of the Manchester War Memorial booklet
  • N.W Metro News 21/12/99, I Spy, Cenotaph
  • Brumheld & Wyke, page 20-21, Cenotaph Architect: Sir Edwin Lutyens Unveiled: 12 July 1924
  • 'A Social History of Britain In Postcards 1870-1930' by E J Evans & J Richards, 1980, page 24
  • Britain at War Ap. 2011 p.8 Plans to move the Cenotaph are likely to go ahead, though the Manchester Evening News website poll shows two thirds of those voting are against the move.
  • Manchester Evening News 23 November 2012
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • The Times 14 July 1924 p.19 Lord Derby and Mrs Bingle, an old lady who had lost three sons in the war, jointly unveiled the memorial.
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • Rail News Nov. 2011 p.13 War Memorial to give way to trams
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • A WALK ROUND MANCHESTER STATUES by BRUMHEAD - WYKE 20 Source: Image Library NIWM Published:WALKROUND BOOKS 1990 MANCHESTER

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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