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Todmorden

Todmorden war memorial consists of three Gilbert Bayes statues of Portland Stone set within a formal classical style garden known as Centre Vale Park. The statues were Listed at Grade II in 1984 and were originally created to commemorate the First World War with names of those killed in subsequent conflict being added later. The central Bayes statue of St George stands at over 11ft high. St George is depicted holding his sword and standing on top of the world with four dragon head spouts. Below this is a pedestal carved with female figures carrying votive offerings. The whole stands within a basin of water. Behind this is a sandstone wall which holds incised Portland stone tablets of names. Further along the path, towards the entrance to the garden, stood two further statues. These statues were stolen in the 1990s, and only the pedestals for these statues remained.

The stolen statues were lifelike scale depictions of children representing the Lamp of Memory and the Shield of Honour. In 2011 an application was received to the Grants for War Memorials scheme to have these two stolen statues replicated and re-instated so that the original design of the memorial gardens could once again be appreciated. A grant of £6,332 was offered towards the total project cost of £12,665.

A number of historic photographs and postcards were used to determine the original design of the statues. Before creating the replacement Portland stone statues clay maquettes were created to ensure that the design was appropriate. Following agreement of the maquettes the work to create the Portland stone statues which would be fixed upon the remaining plinths began. The work was completed in 2014 to coincide with the start of the Centenary of the First World War.

Gilbert Bayes was a prominent sculptor whose parents originally came from Todmorden. The architects for the memorial Messr Thorp and Claypole also had connections with the area through Norman Thorp’s late father.
The memorial and garden were unveiled on 9th October 1921 by Major R H Barker, MP for Sowerby.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM428
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 2224

List description: 1314108

War Memorials Online: 154427

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

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