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Latitude: 53.3212 / 53°19'16"N
Longitude: -3.0447 / 3°2'40"W
OS Eastings: 330509
OS Northings: 380981
OS Grid: SJ305809
Mapcode National: GBR 7Z51.M5
Mapcode Global: WH87L.6SF8
Plus Code: 9C5R8XC4+F4
Entry Name: Thornton Hough War Memorial
Listing Date: 6 September 2019
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1464702
ID on this website: 101464702
Location: Thornton Hough, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63
County: Wirral
Electoral Ward/Division: Clatterbridge
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Traditional County: Cheshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Merseyside
Tagged with: War memorial
First World War memorial, 1921, based on a sketch design by Ernest Prestwich, built by James Lomax-Simpson.
First World War memorial, 1921, based on a sketch design by Ernest Prestwich, built by James Lomax-Simpson.
MATERIALS: Darley Dale stone, red sandstone, and bronze.
DESCRIPTION: Thornton Hough War Memorial stands within the apex of the churchyard of the Grade II* listed Church of St George (United Reformed). The memorial takes the form of a slender wheel-headed cross. The cross is aligned east to west with arms formed by recessed panels, and the wheel segments and the cross intaglio are carved with a Celtic knot design. The cross is mounted on a tall tapering shaft, with a stepped cap, chamfered corners and a moulded base. The shaft rises from a two-stepped plinth on a three-stepped base. The east and west faces of the shaft each have a rectangular inset close to the top, containing a carved Celtic knot design similar to that on the cross. A rectangular bronze plaque at the foot of the east face of the shaft bears the inscription TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PARISH WHO/ LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT/ WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES). The D-plan podium is laid in Darley Dale stone slabs and is enclosed by a low stepped red sandstone wall, with a central opening through which the memorial is reached via pairs of shallow convex and concave steps.
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever, with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Thornton Hough as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 17 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.
The design of the memorial was based on a sketch design by Ernest Prestwich and built by Mr James Lomax-Simpson. It was unveiled on 23 April 1921 by Lord Leverhulme, at a service attended by a number of dignitaries, the secretary of the memorial committee and conducted jointly by the vicar, Reverend HA Bull and the Reverend TL Burrows, minister of the Congregational Church. The psalms and hymns were sung by a joint choir and were accompanied by the village band. In 2002 the memorial was conserved with grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
Thornton Hough War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made during the First World War.
Architectural interest:
* the design, based on a sketch by Ernest Prestwich and built by James Lomax-Simpson, is elegant and well-detailed;
* it is a well-executed war memorial employing good quality materials and craftsmanship.
Group value:
* has a spatial group value with the Grade II* listed Church of St George and numerous other listed buildings within the village.
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.
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