The War Memorial

The War Memorial was unveiled on 26th October 1926.  During the recent works programme in 2024, the Memorial was subjected to a complete restoration and 19 missing names added.
During the restoration, artwork by the children of St Bartholomews school was displayed on the scaffold structure surrounding the memorial. .

Prior to erecting the War Memorial in the park, other locations were considered including Mercer Hall and Bowley Hill.

Further reading follows - for those interested in the history of our Memorial 

THE HISTORY OF OUR WAR MEMORIAL

The War Memorial Committee

On the 18th of November 1918 a public meeting was held.  At this meeting it was resolved that …… On a motion of the vicar (Rev AF Johnson) and seconded by Mr Allcott, that some form of permanent record should be erected or placed in the town to contain all the names of the Great Harwood soldiers and sellers who had lost their lives in consequence of the war,

A committee was set up comprising Rev A.F. Johnson, James Boardman,  B.Howarth, Thomas Allcott, Thomas Noble, Cllr W. Hesmondhaigh and three councillors to be elected by the council.

The committee to make full enquiries as to the form and probable cost of the memorial and report to a future meeting on the Monday 25th November 1918 at 3:00 pm (source LRC, UDGH) 

At the meeting on the 25th of November 1918 under the chairman Cllr Smith.it was resolved that  … we recommend that the most suitable place for the erection of the War Memorial is the site in front of the Mercer Memorial Hall in Queen Street if arrangements can be made.

James Boardman. B.Howorth, Thomas Noble and the chairman were appointed as the committee to meet the Mercer Trustees to see if arrangements were possible.

Letters were received on the 17th December 1918, from Messrs F.Harrison with reference to a design for a War Memorial from Mr R.D.Brooughton and the Mercer trustees would have no objections to the site in front of Mercer Hall being used for the purpose as long as the design is approved by the Trustees before any appeal is made to the public. It was resolved the Messrs. Briggs and Thornley be requested to prepare a design for a War Memorial. It was also resolved that the amount suggested has been suitable cost should be £1500-£2000  (There is a file in Lancashire Record Office with records of the War Memorial Committee. It also contains Great Harwood Harwood Peace Celebration 1919 receipts)  

The Blackburn Times carried an article about the war memorial in early January1919 There is a letter on file from “ROD” which was published on the 11th of January 1919 “ROD” suggested the more suitable place for a War  Memorial will be at the tip of Bowley hill facing to towards France.

It was suggested that the Coats of Arms of the town three lion’s rampart on a shield could be included in the design and on the 23rd of January 1919, the council sent a copy of the court of arms to Messrs Briggs and Thornley architects. Their main office was at the Royal liver building Peir Head Liverpool, but they had an office on Richmond Terrace in Blackburn.

Briggs and Thornley were in discussion with Mr Burnie (Bruce) Rhind a sculpture from Edinburgh who was producing two designs for consideration. 

Messrs Briggs and Parkinson attended a meeting and submitted designs for the War Memorial on the 5th of March 1919. The estimated cost was £2000.  At this meeting it was resolved that a …… public meeting be conveyed on Tuesday 18th of March 1919 at 7:15 pm at the Weavers Institute.  The architects suggested that a very considerable improvement could be made by setting back the gates to Britannia mill at an estimated cost of £100 if arrangements could be made with the owner.

A poster was produced by Clough and Sons, Printers, Delph Road, Great Harwood to announce the public meeting and the designs were placed in on view in a shop window of Mr. J. Rushton, Draper, Queen Street previous to the meeting.

Also on file at Lancashire Record Office is the bank book for the Great Harwood soldiers and sailors trust fund 1919 to1921. There are also press cuttings which detail both the receipt and expenditure as £1234 8s 5p On file is the Great Harwood Red Cross beds fund with a list of subscriptions and collections.

Change of Plan?

Now something seems to have changed. The War Memorial at Mercer Hall did not go ahead, but there are no press cuttings or committee minutes to explain why.  Bowley Hill was not suitable because Messrs Grimshaw of Burnley held the lease on the land at Bowley and the estate office at Great Harwood Urban District Council recorded this on the 18th March 1919.

The Ladies Committee

The ladies committee meeting was convened by Cllr Mrs Cummins, to consider the suggestion for a War Memorial. This meeting  to be at the Town Hall on Thursday 23rd of July 1923 (25?) at 4 pm. 
On the motion of Mrs Hartley, supported by Mrs Proctor it was by a considerable majority agree that, if satisfactory, arrangements could be made to recommend the construction of a garden of remembrance and the erection of monument at the top of the land (near Hindle Fold Farm) given to the time some time ago for a park.

They received a reply from Great Harwood Urban District Council on the 30th of July 1923 (25?)
Letter to Mrs Hartley ladies committee:-

I have pleasure in informing you that the members of the council at the meeting of the Parks Committee,  pasted the resolution, agreeing to your suggestion of your committee to make a garden of remembrance as a War Memorial on the land near Hindle Fold, given to the council for the use as a public park, providing that sufficient fund can be raised for the purpose.

It was also decided to provide a sum of the Estimates of Expenditure for the next year, for fencing off the land from “Allsprings Park” and the chairman of the council was requested to call a public meeting to consider the proposals  as soon as convenient after the holidays. John B Ingham, Clark. 

On the 2nd of September 1925, a public meeting was held.  . 

At this meeting. The Ladies Committee were appointed to a committee to collect monies for the fund and to progress the War Memorial and Gardens of Remembrance . The balance from the Soldiers and Sailors Trust Fund was handed over to the War Memorial fund.

The council having considered suggestions were willing to give the land the purpose.  There will be no cost attached to the site and the council are willing, at their own cost, to fence of the land from Allsprings Park, which is one of the conditions attached to the land.

This, we think, would be a very suitable place because there is a possibility that, at some future time a Park will be laid out after

After 1918 the council looked for some land suitable for a memorial to men who had lost their lives fighting in 1920-21 some land near  Hindle Fold was given by James Boardman, Henry Milton Thompson, and William Pickard up for a public park. The football pitches form part of this gift. There is a stone at the entrance of the park depicting the names of those who gave the land to the town.

The Finance Committee Minutes Book (number 202) for the 9th February 1920 … The Parks Committee reported that they have been in negotiation with Messrs R. Ferguson and Son, Blackburn and Messrs T.H. Mawson of Lancaster as to the preparation of plans and estimated cost the line out the proposed park etc 

Arrangements had been made for rounding off the acute angle of the corners of Allsprings Drive and Park Lane and that the owners of the Estate Land had given two trees, if the council would undertake their maintenance.

On 9th September 1926, the Finance Committee minutes record show that the Clerk reported the arrangements for the Ladies Committee for the unveiling of the War Memorial on Saturday 2nd October 1926.

Great Harwood War Memorial

The Memorial which has been conceived in the spirit of quiet dignity, and is built of imperishable materials, has been designed and carried out the Messrs William Kirkpatrick Ltd of Manchester.

The Monument in the form of Obelisk, is of Creetown granite the surface of which have been wrought to a high polish.
Upon the upper portion of the shaft a cross appears representing the sacrifice of those who fell.
The names of the fallen in alphabetical order are engraved on the memorial and the words

“TO OUR GLORIOUS DEAD”

are carved at the lower portion of the shaft and around the base of the following words

“AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

The monument is erected in the garden of Remembrance covering an area extending 40 yards each way.

The laying of the garden has been entrusted to Messrs R.Ferguson and Son Landscape Gardeners of Blackburn. 

References

Most of this information and photographs have been obtained from books and leaflets published by the Great Hawood Civic Society.  They include the Great Harwood Nature Trail, Great Harwood Town Trail.

1066 to 2000 Great Harwood from William the Conqueror to Millennium by Louie Pollard.
A Great Harwood Miscellany by Louie Pollard.
Old Great Harwood, a pictorial recorded people and places in Great Harwood, complied by Louie Pollard and Harry E Eaton
Lancashire Records Office