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 | |
Vandalism
Vandalism | Comment |
|---|---|
Graffiti | |