Memorial details

Memorial type
Arch
District
Leicester
Town
Leicester
County
Leicestershire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Maker
SIR EDWIN LUTYENS (Architect)
Messrs Holloway (cf Southampton) (Builder)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 4 July 1925
    Attended by: Mrs Elizabeth Ann Butler; Mrs Annie Elizabeth Glover
  • Dedicated
    Date: 4 July 1925
    Attended by: Bishop of Peterborough
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
2225

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Current location

Victoria Park
Lancaster Gate
Leicester
Leicester
Leicestershire
LE1 7RH
England

OS Grid Ref: SK 59561 03214
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Triumphal arch. Large square monumental arch stepped at top and crowned with shallow dome. Coffered barrel-vault through with lower crossing vault. Four stone flags inside: the Union Flag and those of the three Armed Services. Whole is enclosed by railings and stone piers (see file for full description) Surrounding railings and rusticated gate piers with urns forming a circle. Underneath the arches hang carved and painted stone flags. Gates have been built on the two main approaches to it.
Inscription
(Front face over arch): MCM XIV MCM XIX / GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE (Front face on the piers): MCM XXXIX MCM XLV (Left face): REMEMBER IN GRATITUDE TWELVE THOUSAND MEN/ OF THIS CITY AND COUNTY/ WHO FOUGHT AND DIED FOR FREEDOM./ REMEMBER ALL WHO SERVED AND STROVE/ AND THOSE WHO PATIENTLY ENDURED (Rear face): ALL THEY HOPED FOR, ALL THEY HAD, THEY GAVE/ TO SAVE MANKIND THEMSELVES THEY SCORNED TO SAVE (Right face): I WILL NOT CEASE FROM MENTAL FIGHT/ NOR SHALL MY SWORD SLEEP IN MY HAND/ TILL WE HAVE BUILT JERUSALEM/ IN ENGLAND'S GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND (Names)
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: no
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Arch
    Measurements: depth 1250mm, height 20730mm, width 13410mm
    Materials: Stone - Portland
Listing information
  • The Arch of Remembrance
  • 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
Arch: GradeI listed (revised from Grade II* 21 June 1996); Lodges and gates onto London Rd: Grade II* listed; Gates and gate piers onto University Rd: Grade II* listed (revised from Grade II 21 June 1996. Final memorial was a revised version as insufficient funds had been raised for the original design. See file for full history of memorial.
Costs

Memorial: £22,700

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
Leicester City Council
Reference
  • The Times 6 July 1925 p.11
  • The Arch of Remembrance - The Order of the Ceremony (with description, illustrations, etc.) IWM Library
  • Lutyens and the Great War by Tim Skelton & Gerald Gliddon p.170 Published:Francis Lincoln Ltd 2008, Nov London Unveiled by Mrs Elizabeth Butler ( a bereaved mother who lost four sons killed, and two wounded). Built by Messrs Holloway.
  • L. P. Jenkins, The Form and Order of the Unveiling Ceremony of the Arch of Remembrance (Leicester, 1925)
  • Leicester Mercury 25th November 2009.
  • Carter Postcard Collection

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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© WMR-2225

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