Church of St Gabriel War Memorial, St Gabriel's Church, Middleton Junction

The Church of St Gabriel War Memorial, St Gabriel's Church, Greenhill Road, Middleton Junction, Middleton, M24 2BD

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Overview

War memorial, dedicated 1921 and re-dedicated 1947. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1441153
Date first listed:: 02-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:: Church of St Gabriel War Memorial, St Gabriel's Church, Middleton Junction
Statutory Address:: The Church of St Gabriel War Memorial, St Gabriel's Church, Greenhill Road, Middleton Junction, Middleton, M24 2BD

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1441153
Date first listed:: 02-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:: Church of St Gabriel War Memorial, St Gabriel's Church, Middleton Junction
Statutory Address 1:: The Church of St Gabriel War Memorial, St Gabriel's Church, Greenhill Road, Middleton Junction, Middleton, M24 2BD

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: The Church of St Gabriel War Memorial, St Gabriel's Church, Greenhill Road, Middleton Junction, Middleton, M24 2BD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Rochdale (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SD8854005295

Summary

War memorial, dedicated 1921 and re-dedicated 1947.

Reasons for Designation

This war memorial of 1921 is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on the Parish of St Gabriel’s, Middleton and the sacrifices it made during both World Wars; * Architectural interest: a well-executed design in good quality materials in the form of a Celtic cross.

History

The war memorial was created to commemorate the men of the Parish of St Gabriel’s who fell during the First World War. It was built by Messrs F Taylor and Sons (Builder) at a cost of £185, and it was unveiled and dedicated 26 February 1921, in the presence of Lt Colonel R L Lees DSO, OBE, VD, TD, Sixth Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Following the Second World War it was re-dedicated on 9 November 1947 to include the fallen of that conflict.

Details

War memorial, dedicated 1921 and re-dedicated 1947.

The war memorial is situated within the churchyard, immediately outside of the W window of the Church of St Gabriel. It comprises a rectangular stone column raised on a pedestal and plinth, surmounted by a stylised Celtic cross with a recessed panel containing a broadsword carved in relief pointing downwards, with a Laurel wreath enclosing the hilt that has a small Lancashire rose at its centre. The base of the cross is supported by a scroll bracket to either side, with the date 1914 above a festoon on the front panel. The front of the pedestal is divided into three recessed panels; the central panel is twice the width of the outer pair and it has a dedication that reads: ERECTED / IN HONOURED MEMORY / OF / THE BRAVE MEN FROM / S.GABRIEL’S PARISH / WHO SACRIFICED / THEIR LIVES / IN THE GREAT WARS / + / “THEIR NAMES LIVETH / FOR EVERMORE.”. The flanking panels are carved 1939 / 1945 and record the names of 14 individuals killed during the Second World War. The 131 Fallen of the First World War are recorded on the side panels of the pedestal, and on the plinth. The remaining 26 names of the Fallen from the Second World War are recorded in two panels on the plinth; the front panel on the top step is also carved 1939 /1945. All names are recorded by initial and surname, with the exception of one woman – Martha Scott.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 23 November 2017.

Sources

Websites
Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society, Middleton Junction, St. Gabriel's Church, WWI and WW2, accessed 04 November 2016 from www.mlfhs.org.uk/data/war_memorials_images.php?memorial=245
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/253749
War Memorials Register, accessed 4 November 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/44997
Other
The London Gazette, 23 December 1924, page 9336

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

The listed building is shown coloured blue on the attached map. Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’), structures attached to or within the curtilage of the listed building (save those coloured blue on the map) are not to be treated as part of the listed building for the purposes of the Act.