Holme, Holmfirth and Newmill Memorial Cross

Summary

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Holme, Holmfirth and Newmill Memorial Cross, situated in the grounds of Holme Valley Memorial Hospital, Holmfirth, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic Interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Historic Association: the memorial cross forms the focus of the approach to the contemporary Memorial Hospital.

History

Holme Valley Memorial Hospital, and the Holme, Holmfirth and Newmill Memorial Cross standing in the hospital grounds, were conceived together to commemorate the men from Holmfirth District who fell in the First World War. The scheme was led by Dr RH Trotter and funded by public subscription. The hospital (which is not listed) opened in 1919, and the memorial cross was unveiled in July 1921 by Colonel HR Headlam. Details commemorating those servicemen from the district who fell during the Second World War were added at a later date. Conservation and repair work to the memorial cross was carried out in 2007, funded by War Memorials Trust.

Details

Holme, Holmfirth and Newmill Memorial Cross stands on a raised platform in front of Holme Valley Memorial Hospital, in the hospital gardens. It forms the focus of the approach to the hospital from the main road to the south-east. The garden path ends in stone steps rising to the memorial, through a break in the curved stone retaining wall of the platform. Paths either side of the platform meet the rear wall, also providing access.

The tall memorial cross, in granite, consists of a budded Latin cross set on an octagonal shaft with a moulded foot. Draped over the arms of the cross is a carved stone wreath, and a reversed sword is carved in relief on the front face of the cross. The shaft rises from a stepped, octagonal, plinth. An inscription on the front face of the plinth reads REMEMBER. The plinth stands on a shallow, octagonal, base.

Behind the memorial cross, a retaining wall in York stone marks the rear of the platform. The wall is balustraded. Flights of stone steps at each end of the wall rise from the platform to the hospital terrace above. A central projection in the wall, surmounted by a pediment with a broken cornice, bears a granite panel on which is inscribed the principal dedication IN/ PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THESE,/ OUR SONS, WHO DIED FOR/ ENGLAND/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ THE PEOPLE/ OF HOLME, HOLMFIRTH, AND/ NEWMILL/ HAVE ERECTED THIS/ MONUMENT & HOSPITAL/ A.D. 1920./ + / OH ENGLAND, SOMETIMES THINK OF THEM,/ AS ONCE THEY THOUGHT OF YOU. Above this panel and let into the pediment is a coronet carved in relief, in granite. To the left of the panel is a wreath, carved in relief and encircling 1914; to the right, a similar wreath encircles 1919. Both wreaths are also in granite.

Granite panels let into the wall record the commemorated names. The inscriptions are carved, with inlaid, black-painted, metal letters.

(first panel) HOLME VALLEY 1939 – 45/ (50 NAMES)

(second panel) HOLM AND HOLMEBRIDGE/ (51 NAMES)

(third panel) (11 NAMES)/ UNDERBANK/ 30 NAMES/ CARTWORTH/ (8 NAMES)

(fourth panel) HOLMFIRTH/ (50 NAMES)

(fifth panel) UPPERTHONG/ (25 NAMES)/ WOOLDALE/ (25 NAMES)

(sixth panel) NETHERTHONG & THONGSBRIDGE/ (30 NAMES)/ FULSTONE/ 20 NAMES)

(seventh panel) (12 NAMES)/ HEPWORTH & SCHOLES/ (22 NAMES)/ HADE EDGE/ 16 NAMES)

(eighth panel) HOLME VALLEY 1939 – 45/ (50 NAMES)


This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 5 October 2017.

Sources

Websites
Kirklees Council, Holme Valley War Memorial, accessed 23/06/2015 from http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/community/warmemorial/memorial_details.aspx?mid=29
Holmfirth History, Timeline, accessed 25/06/2015 from http://holmfirthevents.co.uk/holmfirth_history/
War Memorials Register, accessed 31 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/29249
War Memorials Online, accessed 5 October 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/137853

Other
“Tribute to a Holmfirth Doctor”, Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 25 December 1922, p12

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