Monument record 15302 - Brunner Mond Sandbach Works War Memorial

<1> Historic England, 2011, The National Heritage List for England, 1454821 (Web Site). SCH6528.

In order to preserve the memory of those who had given their lives for their country during the First World War, the directors of Brunner, Mond & Co (Brunner Mond), commissioned Darcy Braddell to design memorials for each of their works and offices, inscribed with the names of the Fallen from that site. The names on each of these site-specific memorials were also included on the memorial at the company’s main works at Winnington (Northwich, Cheshire). A photo taken around 1921 shows the Sandbach memorial at the time of the unveiling, which was led by Roscoe Brunner, the son of John Brunner, one of the company’s founders. It is not known why the memorial was attached to a building and of a Renaissance design, while all of the other memorials were freestanding and in a purer Classical style. In 1934 the Sandbach works were closed down, and the memorial was moved to its current site in the municipal cemetery and attached to the purpose-built stone pylon.

During the First World War the firm manufactured half of the high explosives used by Britain on every front, at lower profit than was offered by the Government. 2,688 of their employees served in the war, and 291 perished. This included sixteen men and two women who were killed in a huge TNT explosion at the Silvertown works in London in 1917.

The original memorial comprises a limestone panel on the east front, in Renaissance style with projecting cornice and sill, a central semi-circular pediment, and pilasters at either side with egg-and-dart abacuses. This is supported by a pair of bold curlicues. A central plaque between the pilasters is eared at the lower corners, while the upper corners are shouldered with pendant garlands. It is inscribed with incised letters filled in black:

TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM THESE WORKS/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 TO 1919/

Below this are listed ten names of the Fallen, listed alphabetically by surname and with their unit beneath, but no ranks. Below the plaque is a bronze pair of crossed palm leaves. The pediment is carved with rays of heavenly light in bold relief, with a bronze laurel wreath and further palm leaves in front. Either side of the pediment are flaming bronze torches.

The 1934 pylon is approximately 12 feet high, 7 feet wide and 2 feet thick, and of coursed ashlar blocks. It has slightly-battered sides, a stepped top, pyramidal cap and vertical pilasters on each side return, with a two-stepped base of the same plan. Attached to the front of the bottom step is a bronze tablet with the following inscription in relief:

THIS MEMORIAL WAS ORIGINALLY/ ERECTED AT THE SANDBACH WORKS OF/ BRUNNER MOND & CO. LIMITED/ AND WAS REMOVED TO THIS SITE/ IN 1934 OWING TO THE CLOSING DOWN/ OF THOSE WORKS .