Mercantile Marine War Memorial

Prenton Lane, Junction with Osmaston Road, Prenton, Wirral, CH42 8LB

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Overview

First World War memorial drinking fountain, pre-1936. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452579
Date first listed:: 27-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Mercantile Marine War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Prenton Lane, Junction with Osmaston Road, Prenton, Wirral, CH42 8LB

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452579
Date first listed:: 27-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Mercantile Marine War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Prenton Lane, Junction with Osmaston Road, Prenton, Wirral, CH42 8LB

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:: Prenton Lane, Junction with Osmaston Road, Prenton, Wirral, CH42 8LB

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

District:: Wirral (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SJ3062086156

Summary

First World War memorial drinking fountain, pre-1936.

Reasons for Designation

Mercantile Marine memorial and former drinking fountain, erected pre-1936, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War.

Architectural interest:

* originally designed with a dual function as a public drinking fountain, the memorial's prow-like bowl makes symbolic reference to the maritime background of the honorands.

Group value:

* for its strong visual relationship with Prenton War Memorial, which is also listed at Grade II.

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.

Prenton's Mercantile Marine war memorial was erected pre-1936 and was designed with a dual function as a public drinking fountain, although the fountain's mechanism has since been removed.

Details

First World War memorial drinking fountain, pre-1936.

MATERIALS: limestone

DESCRIPTION: the Mercantile Marine war memorial drinking fountain is located at the junction of Osmaston Road and Prenton Lane and is set upon a circular area of flag paving. The fountain is constructed of four blocks of stone consisting of a shaped plinth, which acts as a step up to the front south face, and three large square blocks above with carved rope moulding detail to the four corners. The fountain bowl is located to the front south face and is modelled on a ship’s prow with a clinker-built hull, prominent keel and a stylised ram’s prow with volute scrolling. A rough, squared patch of stone where the fountain’s faucet would have sat is set above the bowl, while an incised cutting and rough semicircle beneath the bowl mark the former drain. The fountain’s north face bears the inscription IN RECOGNITION/ OF THE/ GALLANT SERVICES/ RENDERED BY THE/ MERCANTILE MARINE/ DURING THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919 with a carved roundel above depicting an alisee patee cross.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 18 August 2021 correct wording in description.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum record, accessed 1 December 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2319
War Memorials Online record, accessed 1 December 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/120258

Legal

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