Monument record 4533 - Crewe War Memorial

War Memorial. 1922, erected in Market Square to the designs of Walter Henry Gilbert. Tapered ashlar limestone pedestal, supporting a bronze statue of Britannia. The pedestal is inscribed, and has a rusticated band at its base. It stands on a shallow square plinth with ashlar facings, and is set within a paved well, enclosed by a raised pavement with granite kerbs to the front and chamfered low granite to the rear, the latter surmounted by moulded posts supporting chains. Set into the raised pavement are Roll of Honour bronze plaques. Unveiled on 14th June 1922 by General Sir Ian Hamilton (1).

The War Memorial was unveiled on the 14th June 1922 by General Sir Ian Hamilton and was originally sited in Market Square. Plaques recording the names of those killed during World War II were added later, and most recently those killed during the Falkland and Gulf Wars and in 'Other Theatres'. The memorial was moved to its present location in Municipal Square in 2006. The Roll of Honour bronze plaques were originally set into a raised pavement but were relocated on to the sides of the memorial's base in 2006 (2 & 3).

It was designed by Walter Henry Gilbert who also designed and produced the great gates to Buckingham Palace and the reredo's at Liverpool (Anglican) Cathedral. Other war memorails include Burnley, Clydebank, Eccleston (Merseyside), Troon (Strathclyde), West Jesmond (Tyne and Wear) and on the tablet dedicated to Women War Workers VAD memorial at Harrow Cottage Hospital, Roxeth Hill in London (4).

<1> Department for Culture Media and Sport, Various, Old List Description, 493273 (Report). SCH5160.

<2> English Heritage/DCMS, Various, Notification of inclusion, amendment or removal from the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, UID 165866 (Written Communication). SCH4885.

<3> English Heritage, Listed Buildings Online, 493273 (Digital Archive). SCH4761.

<4> The National Archives, 2009, Your Archives - The National Archives, Gilbert, Walter (1871-1946), Sculptor (Web Site). SCH5161.