Bretherton War Memorial

to the west of Carr House Lane at the junction with Eyes Lane

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Overview

First World War memorial of 1921, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454872
Date first listed:: 27-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Bretherton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: to the west of Carr House Lane at the junction with Eyes Lane

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454872
Date first listed:: 27-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Bretherton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: to the west of Carr House Lane at the junction with Eyes Lane

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:: to the west of Carr House Lane at the junction with Eyes Lane

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

County:: Lancashire
District:: Chorley (District Authority)
Parish:: Bretherton
National Grid Reference:: SD4714620461, SD4714820464, SD4714920461, SD4715020460, SD4715220457

Summary

First World War memorial of 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Bretherton War Memorial, a First World War Memorial of 1921 with Second World War additions, 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 conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* for its subtly-detailed and dignified design of a cross enhanced with a carved reversed sword, set on a decorative plinth.

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 Bretherton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. It was unveiled on 9 April 1921 by Miss Clare of Bank Hall, daughter of Sir Harcourt Clare who chaired the War Memorial Committee. The memorial was dedicated by Dr Rawstorne, Bishop of Whalley and a large congregation attended. It commemorates 12 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the three fallen of that conflict.

The memorial is first marked on the 1928 1:2,500 Ordnance Survey (OS) map, which indicates that the land for the memorial garden was still in the ownership of Rose Grove farm. The 1963 edition indicates the same, and the 1995 1:10,000 OS map is the first to show the current layout with a small strip of land separating the memorial garden from Rose Grove farm. The red sandstone walls with dressed hog’s back copings were built around the memorial garden in 2017, when minor repairs were carried out to provide a safe space for remembrance without impeding the highway.

Details

First World War memorial of 1921 with additional names of the Second World War.

MATERIALS: granite memorial cross, Portland stone plinth, slate plaques, granite bollards and red sandstone base.

DESCRIPTION: prominently-sited in a small memorial garden at the junction of Carr House Lane and Eyes Lane. The memorial stands on a paved area edged to the front by granite posts and link chain.

The memorial faces east. A Latin cross carved on its front face with a reversed sword rises on a square plinth with slate plaques on the front and sides. The plinth sits on a two-stepped base. The bottom step has a riser of random-coursed, quarry-faced red sandstone, and a Portland stone top with a cavetto moulding. Inset at all four corners are square granite bollards with dome-centred tops. The upper step is plain Portland stone. The plinth has a cornice and pyramidal top, and the foot of the cross splays on all four sides.

The plaque on the front face is incised: IN GLORIOUS MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN OF BRETHERTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918.

The plaques on the side faces carry (below a small cross) the list of names from the First World War. These are listed, starting on the south face, alphabetically by surname, with ranks, units and service numbers.

Below the main dedication is a small plaque which reads 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES). These names are possibly listed in order of falling, or alphabetically by Christian name, and no ranks or units are given.

Sources

Websites
‘Memorial to 12 Bretherton Men’, report in Lancashire Evening Post, 11 April 1921, accessed 19/02/18 from https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000711/19210411/158/0004
Imperial War Museums database entry, accessed 19/02/18 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10548
War Memorials Online entry, accessed 19/02/18 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/142873

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 s1 (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.