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Memorial details

Memorial type
Composite
District
Derby
Town
Cathedral Quarter
County
Derbyshire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), Second World War - civilians, Post-1945 war or conflict
Maker
CHARLES CLAYTON THOMPSON (Architect)
Mr Arthur G Walker RA (Sculptor)
A B Burton (Founder / Foundry)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 11 November 1924
    Attended by: Alderman Oswald Ling
  • Rededicated
    Date: 28 October 1994
    Attended by: Bishop of Derby
  • Dedicated
    Date: 11 November 1924
    Attended by: Bishop of Derby
  • Show More (2)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
2226

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Current location

On the south side of the Market Place
near the entrance to the Guildhall.
Paved pedestrian area
Market Place
Cathedral Quarter
Derby
Derbyshire
DE1 3AE
England

OS Grid Ref: SK 352 363
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
A sandstone ashlar monument comprising a cross on a pedestal and three-stepped base and featuring a cast bronze figure and other features. The cast bronze figure is of a mother and child and has the sculptor's and founder's names on the base. The plain wheel cross projects from both faces of a wall which has battered faces and a round arch head and forms a background for the figure on the 6 o'clock face. A bronze sword is mounted on the 12 o'clock face. The pedestal is T-shaped in plan and on the 6 o'clock face has an oblong tablet bearing the WW1 inscription and the WW2 inscription directly on the face. Both inscriptions are incised in upright capital Roman lettering. The 12 o'clock face bears two bronze plaques bearing the post 1945 and civilian inscriptions in raised upright capital Roman lettering. The three stepped base has rows of bronze studs on the upper face of each step and the upper surface of the top step has recesses normally containing flower beds but in November the flowers are replaced by turf to form plots for the placement of remembrance cross and other tributes.
Inscription
6 o'clock face, upper tablet: THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918 6 o'clock face of pedestal: FOR FAITH/ AND HOME/ AND RIGHTEOUSNESS/ WORLD WAR/ 1939 - 1945 12 o'clock face, upper plaque: IN HONOUR OF/ THOSE WHO HAVE/ FALLEN IN CONFLICT/ SINCE 1945 12 o'clock face, lower plaque: IN HONOUR OF/ THOSE CIVILIANS WHO/ LOST THEIR LIVES/ IN WAR 9 o'clock face of base of figure: A. B. BURTON./ FOUNDER. 3 o'clock face of base of figure: G A WALKER. Sc./ 1924
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
  • Second World War - civilians
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Post-1945 war or conflict
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Figure
    Measurements: depth 1000mm, height c2400mm, width 530mm
    Materials: Bronze
  • Cross
    Measurements: depth c700mm, height c3400mm, width c1800mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Pedestal
    Measurements: depth 2080mm, height c1500mm, width 2000mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Base
    Measurements: depth 5100mm, height 540mm, width 5000mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Tablet
    Measurements: depth 30mm, height 295mm, width 825mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Plaque
    Measurements: depth 10mm, height 330mm, width 540mm
    Materials: Bronze
  • Detail
    Measurements: depth c100mm, height c3000mm, width c1500mm
    Materials: Bronze
Listing information
  • 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
2008: Memorial has suffered graffiti damage. Bronze studs added to the steps in August to deter misuse. 31 August 2007: Listed Grade II, Heritage List for England reference 1392237. 2007: Campaign launched in June to get protective studs placed around the memorial to prevent people sitting and skaetboarding on it. Work to be completed by Remembrance Sunday 2007. Unknown date: Memorial included on Derby City Council's Local List of features of conservation merit. The listing was subsequently superseded by Statutory Listing. 1993: Memorial dismantled, cleaned and re-erected 10m northeast of its original position as part of the Market Place townscape scheme. October 1987: The memorial lies within the City Centre Conservation Area first designated on this date. 28 October 1947: Inscription defaced by chalk marks. 1923: Originally located opposite the arched entrance to the Guildhall.
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
Derby City Council
Reference
  • Derby Local Studies Library BA718(18181) Souvenir of ... Unveiling and Dedication ...
  • Derby Daily Telegraph 10/11 November 2009
  • Derby Evening Telegraph 11 / 30 January 2008; 11/ 26 April 2008; 4/ 8 May 2008; 3/ 9 May 2008; 6/ 10 May 2008; 5/ 14 May 2008; 8/ 15 May 2008; 8/ 16 May 2008; 9/ 24 May 2008; 13/ 26 May 2008; 5/ 9 June 2008; 10/ 16 August 2008; 9/ 18 August 2008; 6/ 19 August 2008; 1-3/ 2 September 2008; 10/ 8 September 2008; 6/ 12 September 2008; 8/ 13 September 2008; 21/31 October 2007 Long-running debate on respect for memorial and its protection.
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • Derby Daily Telegraph 1/ 29 October 1947 Report on defacing.
  • British Resistance Organisation
  • Nottingham Evening Post 5/ 11 November 1924 Account of unveiling.
  • Wikipedia Collage en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Derby_War_Memorial_Collage.jpg
  • Council or Committee Minutes 31 July 2007 Council Cabinet Public Realm programme 2007/08 minutes
  • Geograph Photograph www.geograph.org.uk/photo/601269
  • An Illustrated History of Derby by Craven, Maxwell 245-6 & 265 Published:Breedon Books Publishing Unknown Derby Description and photographs.
  • Our Blog ukniwm.wordpress.com/2007/07/30/derby-war-memorial-in-the-news/
  • Winter's Collection of Derby, The Volume Two by Unknown 70 Published:The Breedon Books Publishing Company 1995 Derby Reproduction of photograph taken in 1924.

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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