Memorial details

Memorial type
Obelisk
District
Warrington
Town
Warrington
County
Cheshire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Second World War - civilians, Northern Ireland Conflict; The Troubles (1969-1998), Palestine (1918-1948), Iraq War (2003-2011), Afghanistan (2001-2014), Non-Combat Deaths
Ceremony
  • Rededicated
    Date: 8 November 1952
    Attended by: Percy Martin, Mayor
  • Rededicated
    Date: 10/11/2019
    Attended by: Mayor, Cllr. Wendy Johnson, Rector, Rev. Stuart McTaggart
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
18154

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Current location

Between the old and new Warrington Bridges
South bank of the River Mersey
Junction of A49/A56 and A5061
Warrington
Warrington
Cheshire
WA4 1AB
England

OS Grid Ref: SJ 60814 87818
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Portland stone obelisk on a plinth, with wings of Victory carved below its apex, bearing a bronze sword of sacrifice on its face. There is a dedicatory panel on the plinth, which is set on a two step base on a paved surround, with ramped access to the sides and a four-stepped approach to the font, beside which are set two wreath-hanging panels (WMR 91494). The obelisk is backed by a semi-circular sandstone screen wall upon which are set the cast bronze dedication plaques - 1914 - 1918 in the centre, with a plaque for WW2 at each side. The terminal columns to the screen each bear a cast bronze plaque - the one to the right carrying names for Other Conflicts, whilst the one to the left carries the Burma Star Association's plaque (WMR 96478). To the right of the cenotaph is a flag pole surrounded by a low circular wall. The formal lawned area in front of the Cenotaph is bounded by post and chains, whilst the northern perimeter, which backs onto the River Mersey, is bounded by a white-painted stone wall between stone columns bearing cast bronze lamps. A set of steel benches, with cut-outs depicting figures and material reflecting the Great War, added to mark the Centenary of the Armistice in 2018, are set in front of the wall, with a further bench added in 2020 (WMR 96476). The inscription on the plinth is incised, those on the plaques are raised.
Inscription
On the plinth of the obelisk: To our/ Glorious/ Dead Over the Great War plaques: This tablet enshrines the honoured names of Warrington men/ who made the supreme sacrifice for their country 1914 - 1918/ (Names) Over each of the WW2 plaques: To the honoured memory of those of Warrington who/ lost their lives in the Second World War 1939 - 1945/ (Names)/ Civilians/ Names On the Other Conflicts plaque: In honour of those who gave/ their lives in the service of/ their country/ Other Conflicts/ (Names) On the benches to the side of the garden: Lest we Forget/ 1918 - 2018
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Beacham, Sr
Delaney, Pj
Duggan, Gr
Dutton, R
Green, A
See details for all 5 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 1161
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1161
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,decorations
    Order of information: surname
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 435
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 435
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,decorations
    Order of information: surname
  • Second World War - civilians
    Total names on memorial: 22
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 22
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Northern Ireland Conflict; The Troubles (1969-1998)
    Total names on memorial: 3
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 3
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname, initials, conflict and year of death
    Order of information: year died
  • Palestine (1918-1948)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname, initial, conflict and year of death
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Iraq War (2003-2011)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname, initial, conflict and year of death
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Afghanistan (2001-2014)
    Total names on memorial: 3
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 3
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname, initials, conflict, year of death
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Non-Combat Deaths
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname, initials, country and year of death
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Obelisk
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Portland
  • Wall
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Plaques
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
Listing information
  • Warrington Cenotaph
  • 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
Following concerns over the stability of the riverside site for some years (see War Memorials Online ref. 135815), work was carried out on stabilising the river bank. The memorial was dismantled and removed to storage during the works. In the re-instatement, the 'Time Capsules' under the obelisk were removed, and their contents taken for display in Warrington Museum and Art Gallery. Replacement capsules were sealed under the obelisk at its replacement. The opportunity was taken to redesign the site to allow ramped access, and additional memorial features were added - a set of benches along the river bank, and two wreath hanging panels (WMR 91494) in front of the Cenotaph.
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Responsibility
Warrington Borough Council
Reference
  • BWP/PR/TBS-ALBS-49d Warrington Museum, "Warrington War Memorial Unveiled". Collage or mock-up photo to show intended layout, birtles Studio c1919-20
  • BWP/PR/MISC/5.95-96 Photograph of two architects' drawings of a design for Warrington Cenotaph. Similar but not identical design

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.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-18154

For queries, please contact [email protected].