Foulridge War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, designed by Sir Charles Nicholson and unveiled on 25 September 1926, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Foulridge War Memorial 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant and striking memorial cross;
* Designer: by Sir Charles Nicholson, a prominent ecclesiastical architect.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Foulridge as a permanent testament to the sacrifices made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was designed by Sir Charles Nicholson (1867 – 1949) who was a prominent ecclesiastical architect and was also responsible for Huddersfield War Memorial (Grade II*) and Rugby School War Memorial (Grade II) as well as a number of other war memorials.

The Foulridge memorial is located in the centre of the village on an elevated paved site. The land for the memorial was purchased and gifted by Mr W Pilgrim who had been the chairman of the memorial committee. The memorial was constructed by J Crossley of Colne. It was completed for an estimated cost of £650 and was unveiled on the 25 September 1926 by Col H de Martelli of the 42nd Division of the East Lancashire Regiment. The dedication service was conducted by the Bishop of Whalley.

In 2014 the memorial was conserved with the aid of grant funding.

Details

MATERIALS: sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial comprises a wheel-head cross on a slender tapering shaft. The cross rises from a square plinth on a four-stepped base. The stone for the memorial came from Salterforth Quarries.

The memorial plinth is inscribed with incised painted lettering. The main dedication reads: TO THE MEMORY/ OF OUR MEN/ 1914 – 1918/ 1939 – 1945. The other faces are inscribed with the names of the fallen.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Trust, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1079
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/185220
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/548

Other
‘Foulridge War Memorial’, Burnley Express, 18 September 1926, p4
‘Foulridge War Memorial’, Lancashire Evening Post, 27 September 1926, p3

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