Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

FARNWORTH WAR MEMORIAL Photograph

Region ID

MR

Work ID

390

Manual Reference

MR/BOL32

Title

FARNWORTH WAR MEMORIAL

Architect

Patteson

Date of design

Year of unveiling

1924

Unveiling details

16 November 1924

Road

Market Street

Precise Location

A to Z Ref

OS Ref

Postcode

Work is

Extant

Listing Status

II

Duty of Care

Bolton MBC

Commissioned by

Farnworth War Memorial Committee

Notes

Bronze statue of female figure, crowned with laurel, blowing a trumpet held in right hand and a wreath in the other hand. The figure surmounts a tapering rectangular stone shaft, decorated with wreaths of all four sides, and square base. The base includes the inscription and bronze tablets listing the dead. The memorial rises from two octagonal steps.

The idea of raising a war memorial in Farnworth began to be discussed immediately after the war, a tribute to the many who had died. The town had established a Hero's Fund from which each returning soldier was presented with a gold watch and an illuminated address. The surplus funds were directed towards a more public memorial in mmoray of those who did not return. But as in other communities, it proved difficult to reach an agreement on the type of memorial, some favouring a memorial hall or a social centre for ex-servicemen whilst others supported the erection of a more conventional war memorial. The subject was allowed to lapse and was not revived until 1923 when R. H. Cunliffe, the new chairman of the council, announced his determination to complete the scheme. It was decided to place a memorial inside the main entrance to Farnworth Park. The commission was given to the Manchester firm of J. and H. Patteson. It took the form of a tapering stone column surmounted by a bronze sculpture of a female figure symbolising Peace, though people interpreted it as Victory. As the memorial neared completion a further appeal was made for funds to liquidate the outstanding debt of £200. The memorial was unveiled in November 1924 by Councillor James Stones in a solemn ceremony that attracted thousands of the town's inhabitants. Stones spoke of the memorial as 'a credit to the district and one which would compare favourably with other towns of like-size and importance'. An additional bronze tablet was added afterwards when it was revealed that some of the local fallen had been omitted from the 586 names listed on the two original tablets.

circa

raw year

1924

Condition

Good

At risk

Not at risk

Inscriptions

THEY DIED / THAT WE / MIGHT LIVE / 1914-1918

Signatures

none visible

Elements

Element Details

Part of work

Material

Dimensions

sculpture

bronze

Assessment of Condition

Surface Character

Detail

Comment

No damage

Structural Condition: nothing recorded

Vandalism

Vandalism

Comment

Graffiti