Description

LANCASTER

SD4861 WILLIAMSON PARK
1685-1/5/317 Ashton Memorial
22/12/53
(Formerly Listed as:
WYRESDALE ROAD
The Ashton Memorial)

GV I

Memorial. 1905-9, damaged by fire 1962 and restored 1985-87.
Designed by Sir John Belcher, assisted by JJ Joas. For Lord
Ashton as a memorial to his family, with Gillows as
contractors. Portland stone over brick with steel joists and
concrete infill, with balustrades of Cornish granite and steps
of Hopton Wood limestone. Dome clad with copper. Of square
plan, 150 feet tall, and built in an elevated position in an
Edwardian Baroque style.
A long flight of steps leads down the slope to the west and
divides near the bottom to sweep around a fountain set in
front of a screen wall with 2 Tuscan columns in antis.
The lowest stage of the memorial has recessed entrance
porticoes on the east and west sides, each with 2 paired
Tuscan columns, and 2 single columns, in antis. The north and
south sides have recesses treated similarly. Across each
corner angle is a pedimented round-arched opening. Above the
cornice and parapet are subsidiary stone domes at each corner
with pairs of Corinthian columns in their diagonals.
The drum of the main dome has an entablature supported by
paired Corinthian columns. Facing in each cardinal direction
is an aedicule with an open segmental pediment. Below each is
a projection whose decoration includes shields carved with a
ship, a railway engine, and a reaper. Above each pediment on 3
sides are allegorical figure sculptures representing Commerce,
Science, and Art. On the 4th, west, side there is a staircase
projection above the pediment. Below the dome the upper part
of the drum is pierced by round windows; above, the lantern is
surrounded by a balustrade.
INTERIOR: contains 2 domed chambers, one above the other. The
lower chamber has a floor of white marble inlaid with black.
Its dome is decorated by 4 large figure groups painted on
canvas by George Murray, representing Commerce, History, Art,
and Science. Between them are the figures of the 4 seasons
above the windows, accompanied by the Arms of Lancaster.
(Ashworth S: The Lino King: York: 1989-).

Listing NGR: SD4889561319

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Ashton Memorial at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q4806060

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability