Summary
First World War memorial, 1916, sculpted by Samuel Welsby of Widnes. Re-dedicated in 1946 to commemorate those lost during the Second World War. Aberdeen granite and polished granite. Columnar memorial surmounted by a soldier from the South Lancashire Regiment
Reasons for Designation
Prescot war memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design interest: it has an elegant and distinguished design incorporating a tall classical column surmounted by a soldier from the South Lancashire Regiment, from whose ranks the fallen of Prescot were from;
* Historic interest: it is one of the earliest permanent war memorials in England, having been proposed in July 1915 and erected in September 1916;
* Group value: it has group value with the neighbouring Grade I listed St Mary's Church.
History
Prescot war memorial was commissioned by Councillor William John Lucas JP in 1915 whilst the First World War was ongoing. The memorial, which was sculpted by Samuel Welsby of Widnes, was unveiled on 9 September 1916 by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Webb MP, Commander of the Prescot Barracks, for the Earl of Derby in front of a crowd of approximately 4000 people.
Details
First World War memorial, 1916, sculpted by Samuel Welsby of Widnes. Re-dedicated in 1946 to commemorate those lost during the Second World War. Aberdeen granite and polished granite. Columnar memorial surmounted by a soldier from the South Lancashire Regiment
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