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Hoddlesden, Waterside, Pickup Bank and Blacksnape

The memorial consists of a number of architectural elements, all made of sandstone. The memorial features a small patonce cross on a tapering shaft which rises from a plinth and base with a number of steps. The memorial features some carved features and mouldings including at the top of the plinth on each face a laurel wreath encircling an ambulance with ribbon inscribed with Latin motto, a biplane upright and angled forty-five degrees left, a laurel wreath encircling an anchor, and a canon. Each face of the plinth as well as the steps are incised with inscriptions. At each corner of the first step is a decorative stone urn with flared upper lip. The memorial is surrounded by a footpath with decorative wrought iron bench seats facing outwards. The whole is located in a garden enclosed by black with gold tipped painted metal railings.

In 2010, a grant of £1,287 was offered through the Small Grants Scheme towards repair works. These works involved the re-fixing of displaced steps and loose urns with steel dowels and resin matched to colour and texture. Cracks were also in-filled with resin, again matched to colour and texture. Open and failed joints were raked out by hand-held tools and re-pointed or bedded with lime mortar mix blended to the match the original in colour, texture and bonding strength. This work was important to ensure the structural stability of the memorial as the gaps between the steps were becoming quite large without any fixings or mortar, as well as ensuring excess water does not enter the structure.

The memorial was sculptured by Redman Brothers of Darwen, Lancashire. It is believed, through local tradition and recollection, that the memorial was constructed in 1921 and it was unveiled on 25th June 1921. An article in the 14th June 2011 edition of the Lancashire Telegraph suggested that funding for the memorial was through public subscription. The same article detailed the campaign by the East Rural Network for the repair and restoration of the memorial. The repaired memorial was rededicated in a ceremony conducted on 27 March 2011.

The front face of the shaft is inscribed:

“To
the glory
of God
and in
memory
of the
men of
Hoddlesden
Waterside
Pickup Bank
and
Blacksnape
who made
the
supreme
sacrifice
for freedom and honour”

The faces of the plinth are inscribed with the names of those men who were killed during the First World War.

Above the names on the front face is inscribed on a ribbon banner in relief:

“1914 the Great War 1918”

On the left face of the upper tier of the plinth base is inscribed the name of the soldier who was killed during the Falkands War, underneath which is the name of that conflict and underneath that is the year “1982”.

The inscription on the front face of the lower tier of the plinth base reads:

“May they rest in peace
who died to give us peace”

Beneath this, on the front face of the steps, continues, per step:

“November 11th 1918
1917
1916
1915
August 4th 1914”

On the rear face of the lower tier of the plinth base is inscribed:

“Sons of this place let this of you be said.
That you who live are worthy of your dead.
These gave their lives that you who live may reap
A richer harvest ere you fall asleep.”

The metal plaque mounted on the left face of the lower tier of the plinth base bears the inscription:

“In grateful remembrance of the men
of this place who died for freedom
1939 – 1945
more brave for this, that they had much to love”

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM3890
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 51344

Lancashire Telegraph article, 14th June 2011

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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