Thornton Hough War Memorial

Junction of St George's Way & Thornton Common Road, Thornton Hough, Merseyside, CH63 1JW

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Overview

First World War memorial, 1921, based on a sketch design by Ernest Prestwich, built by James Lomax-Simpson. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1464702
Date first listed:: 06-Sep-2019
List Entry Name:: Thornton Hough War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Junction of St George's Way & Thornton Common Road, Thornton Hough, Merseyside, CH63 1JW

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1464702
Date first listed:: 06-Sep-2019
List Entry Name:: Thornton Hough War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Junction of St George's Way & Thornton Common Road, Thornton Hough, Merseyside, CH63 1JW

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:: Junction of St George's Way & Thornton Common Road, Thornton Hough, Merseyside, CH63 1JW

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:: SJ3050980981

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, based on a sketch design by Ernest Prestwich, built by James Lomax-Simpson.

Reasons for Designation

Thornton Hough 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made during the First World War. Architectural interest:

* the design, based on a sketch by Ernest Prestwich and built by James Lomax-Simpson, is elegant and well-detailed;

* it is a well-executed war memorial employing good quality materials and craftsmanship.

Group value:

* has a spatial group value with the Grade II* listed Church of St George and numerous other listed buildings within the village.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 Thornton Hough as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 17 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.

The design of the memorial was based on a sketch design by Ernest Prestwich and built by Mr James Lomax-Simpson. It was unveiled on 23 April 1921 by Lord Leverhulme, at a service attended by a number of dignitaries, the secretary of the memorial committee and conducted jointly by the vicar, Reverend HA Bull and the Reverend TL Burrows, minister of the Congregational Church. The psalms and hymns were sung by a joint choir and were accompanied by the village band. In 2002 the memorial was conserved with grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921, based on a sketch design by Ernest Prestwich, built by James Lomax-Simpson.

MATERIALS: Darley Dale stone, red sandstone, and bronze.

DESCRIPTION: Thornton Hough War Memorial stands within the apex of the churchyard of the Grade II* listed Church of St George (United Reformed). The memorial takes the form of a slender wheel-headed cross. The cross is aligned east to west with arms formed by recessed panels, and the wheel segments and the cross intaglio are carved with a Celtic knot design. The cross is mounted on a tall tapering shaft, with a stepped cap, chamfered corners and a moulded base. The shaft rises from a two-stepped plinth on a three-stepped base. The east and west faces of the shaft each have a rectangular inset close to the top, containing a carved Celtic knot design similar to that on the cross. A rectangular bronze plaque at the foot of the east face of the shaft bears the inscription TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PARISH WHO/ LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT/ WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES). The D-plan podium is laid in Darley Dale stone slabs and is enclosed by a low stepped red sandstone wall, with a central opening through which the memorial is reached via pairs of shallow convex and concave steps.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum War Memorial Register - Thornton Hough War Memorial, accessed 7 June 2019 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1268
War Memorials Online - Thornton Hough, accessed 7 June 2019 from http://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/121244
Other
Cheshire Observer, Saturday 30 April 1921, Page 11 - Thornton Hough War Memorial

Legal

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