Summary
War memorial commemorating the First World War and Second World War. 1920 by sculptor Alfred Frith, Macclesfield.
Reasons for Designation
The High Lane War Memorial is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic Interest: as a poignant reminder of the tragic impact of world events upon an individual community, commemorating the men from the parish of High Lane who lost their lives fighting in the First and Second World Wars;
* Local Interest: the monument also unusually commemorates those men of the parish who participated in, and returned, from the First World War, being a testament of acknowledgement and gratitude by the community towards those who fought for the country's liberty, and also commemorates two civilians who lost their lives due to enemy action during the Second World War;
* Design: a well-designed and carved stone memorial based upon a Blomfield Cross of Sacrifice, standing in a remembrance garden, with three large plaques commemorating local soldiers from the First World War set into the garden wall behind the cross;
* Group Value: the war memorial stands next to the churchyard and has group value with the adjacent Church of St Thomas and Lychgate.
History
The war memorial was erected in 1920 by the parishioners of High Lane to commemorate the men of their parish who fought in the Great War of 1914-19. The names of the 30 men who died were inscribed on the pedestal of the cross, whilst the 139 men who fought for their country and returned were listed on three stone panels in a wall behind the cross. The sculptor was Alfred Frith of Macclesfield. Subsequently, the four soldiers who lost their lives in the Second World War were added to the cross plinth, and also two civilians, William Davies and Ronald Morris, who lost their lives in 1946 as a result of enemy action.
Details
MATERIALS: limestone.
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