Memorial details

Memorial type
Park / Sports field
District
Blackburn
Town
Darwen
County
Lancashire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Ceremony
  • Opened
    Date: 7 May 1921
    Attended by: (Bowling Green) Councillor J.W. Forrest, leader of Blackburn Town Council, who, along with Colonel Arthur Birtwistle played the first game
  • Opened
    Date: 7 May 1921
    Attended by: (Tennis Court) Mrs. Singleton, Alice Kay, Mr. J. Sudworth and Harold Darbyshire who played game on the court.
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
51347

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Current location

Lower Darwen Memorial Bowling Club
Higher Croft Road
Darwen
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB3 0QH
England

OS Grid Ref: SD 68972 25371
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Bowling Green and Tennis Court with dedicatory plaque attached to Stone of Remembrance in front of the Clubhouse. Also a pavilion/club house. 'The Memorial Bowling Green was established after the First World War (1914-1918) as a Memorial to the men of the United Methodist Free Church in Lower Darwen who served their country. By 1926 the finances of the Bowling Club were such that the Church could no longer keep it going and help was asked from two wealthy mill owners in the village. This was agreed on condition that the green could be used by the public and not only by Church members. The Trustees agreed to this condition. Since then the green is open to all but the land remains the property of the Methodist Church so we remain in the unique position of being a private club but a public green. The original pavilion was a wooden construction, destroyed by fire in 1948, rebuilt, but again burnt down in 1986. This was replaced by the present brick building.'
Inscription
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH/ THIS BOWLING GREEN AND/ THIS TENNIS COURT WERE/ LAID IN HONOUR OF THE/ MEN OF THIS CHURCH AND/ SCHOOL WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ (Names)/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Duckworth, Richard E
Gardner, James H
Haworth, Robert W
Livesey, William H
Robinson, Harry
Walmsley, Osborne
See details for all 6 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 6
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 6
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname, forenames
    Order of information: surname
Components
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Stone of remembrance
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Pavilion
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Wood
  • Pavilion
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Brick
  • Playing / Sports field
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Plant Material
  • Playing / Sports field
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Plant Material
Listing information
Condition
History
DATE UNKNOWN: THE TENNIS COURT HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • Blackburn Times 14 May 1021
  • Blackburn Weekly Telegraph 14 May 1921

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-51347

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