Memorial details

Memorial type
Serviceman / Servicewoman
District
Ribble Valley
Town
Clitheroe
County
Lancashire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 18 August 1923
    Attended by: The Mayor (Alderman Whipp) unveiled the memorial.
  • Unveiled
    Date: 05 July 1952
    Attended by: Deputy Mayor (Alderman Cook) unveiled the WW2 plaques that had been added to the cenotaph.
  • Dedicated
    Date: 18 August 1923
    Attended by: Canon J.H. Wrigley dedicated the memorial.
  • Show More (2)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
580

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Current location

Clitheroe Castle Gardens
Clitheroe
Ribble Valley
Lancashire
BB7 2BT
England

OS Grid Ref: SD 74269 41698
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Bronze figure of a British Army soldier in Dress uniform, resting on arms reversed. The statue stands on a granite plinth, one face of which has the carved dedicatory WW1 inscription. Bronze plaques fixed to the plinth bear the names of those who died in WW1, and the inscription and names of those who died in WW2.
Inscription
ERECTED/ BY/ THE INHABITANTS OF/ CLITHEROE/ IN/ GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE /OF/ THEIR FELLOW TOWNSMEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN DEFENCE OF THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 1918.
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Abell, W E
Ainsworth, R A
Allen, G B
Allen, J C
Alston, D
Alston, T
Alston, W
Apperley, C M
Ashcroft, H
Astin, B
See details for all 404 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 332
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 332
    Exact count: no
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 72
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 72
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Pedestal
    Measurements: depth 685MM, height 3870MM, width 685MM
    Materials: Granite
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Sculpture
    Measurements: height 2200MM
    Materials: Bronze
Listing information
  • CLITHEROE CASTLE
  • 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
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Responsibility
CLITHEROE TOWN COUNCIL
Reference
  • Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Saturday 18/8/1923 reported: 'CLITHEROE'S WAR MEMORIAL. All places of business will closed and other activities suspended for an hour at Clitheroe this afternoon, whilst the Mayor (Alderman Whipp) unveils the town's cenotaph to 320 local men who died in the war. The monument consists of a base pedestal of granite surmounted by a bronze figure of a guardsman with bowed head and with arms reversed. The cenotaph stands in a memorial garden, with the Norman keep of the ancient Castle as a background. The Castle, with its 10 acres of land in the heart of the town, was bought several years ago as a war memorial—£9,500 being the purchase price. The estate is to-day to be handed over from the subscribers' committee to the Corporation, with a request that it preserved as open space for ever'. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19230818/311/0014
  • Centenary Commemoration Report in: Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thurs December 4, 2014
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • Clitheroe Advertiser and Times Friday 11/7/1952 printed a lengthy report of the unveiling of the new gate and the plaques that had been added to the Cenotaph, in memory of those who had died in WW2. The report opened: 'CLITHEROE HONOURS THE FALLEN AT CASTLE CEREMONY. New Entrance Opened And Memorial Plaque Unveiled. REPRESENTATIVES of almost every organisation in the town and a large contingent of ex-Servicemen of two world wars walked in procession to the Clitheroe Castle Grounds on Saturday afternoon when the gates of the new entrance at Castle Gate—the town’s memorial—were officially opened, and a plaque bearing the names of the 69 Clitheroe men and one woman who gave their lives in the Second World War, was unveiled and dedicated. In brilliant sunshine, hundreds of townspeople lined Castle-street to watch the procession from the Grammar School to the Castle Grounds and at the new entrance, another large crowd saw the Deputy Mayor. Alderman Harry Cook, formally unlock the new gates...' The report included mention of the unveiling of the new plaques on the cenotaph. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19520711/033/0003#
  • Clitheroe Advertiser and Times Friday 29/5/1949 reported: 'BOROUGH OF CLITHEROE WAR MEMORIAL ADDITIONAL to any other form of Memorial eventually provided, it has been decided that plaque be placed on the present Cenotaph in the Memorial Gardens at the Castle Grounds, bearing the names of the Clitheroe men and women who fell in the War of 1939-1945. The Council are anxious to obtain a complete list of the fallen and would be grateful if members of bereaved families would furnish the full Christian and Surnames of those who lost their lives, names of the Units in which they were serving, their rank, and any service decorations. Particulars should be furnished to the Borough Treasurer's Office, Church Street, Clitheroe, as early as possible. Town Clerks' Office HETHERINGTON. Town Clerk 13th May. 1949'. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19490513/075/0004
  • Clitheroe Advertiser and Times Friday 8/3/1946 reported: 'It was urged at a meeting of Clitheroe War Memorial Committee that the names of the fallen should be inscribed on the Cenotaph and not on parchment to be kept in a room at the Castle house'. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002041/19460308/122/0007
  • Burnley News Wednesday 22/8/1923 reported: 'CASTLE AS MEMORIAL. An Impressive Ceremony at Clitheroe. Clitheroe Castle, with surrounding grounds to the extent of ten acres, was formally received into public keeping on Saturday afternoon by the Mayor of Clitheroe, who also unveiled a cenotaph, picturesquely situated in the Castle grounds, with the Norman keep as a background. The purchase the castle and the erection of the cenotaph commemorate the 329 men of the town who lost their lives in the war. The castle and grounds were bought for £9,500 from the Duke Buccleuch. The purchase price was quickly raised by public subscription, £12,000 being raised in all. A determined effort is now being made to increase the fund to £15,000 when Messrs. Southworth and Sons, cotton manufacturers, will double their original subscription of £l,000. It is believed that the endowment fund thus created will enable the grounds to be laid out for pleasure as a park and to maintain the estate for all time, though it is probable that an annual gala will be held to provide additional revenue. A playing field, charming gardens and walks, and improved means access of access to the ancient keep have already been provided, whilst tennis courts and a bowling green are in course of construction. ' . ' The cenotaph, the work Mr. L. H. Roslyn, of London, is a granite pedestal bearing the bronze plates, with the names of the fallen inscribed, surmounted by the bronze figure of a guardsman, with bowed head and arms reversed. This stands in a memorial garden and can seen through the trees from several parts of the town. After the unveiling, addresses were then delivered by the Vicar (Canon J. H. Wrigley),. who had previously dedicated the monument, by the Rev. Fr. Robinson, S.J., and by the Rev H. W. Hard, president of the Free Church Council. The Mayor surrendered his privilege of placing the first wreath on the cenotaph to Mr. T. Snape, of Wilkin-street, who lost four sons and a son-in-law in the war. The wreath consisted of an arch made from blooms grown in the Castle gardens and including the words, picked out in purple, "In remembrance." Other wreaths were then deposited by relatives and by representatives of the mills and workshops, the churches and chapels, the clubs and other organisations—several hundred wreaths being placed at the foot of the cenotaph in honour of the fallen, the whole forming beautiful and touching homage. Throughout the afternoon and evening end again on Sunday large crowds visited the cenotaph'. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000699/19230822/109/0007

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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