| Bury War Memorial | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bury War Memorial in 2010 | |
  Location within Greater Manchester | |
| General information | |
| Location | The Rock,Bury, Greater Manchester, England |
| Coordinates | 53°35′38″N2°17′51″W / 53.59377°N 2.29747°W /53.59377; -2.29747 |
| Year built | 1924 |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Portland stone |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | SirReginald Blomfield |
| Other designers | Joseph Hermon Cawthra (sculptor) |
| Main contractor | William Kirkpatrick Ltd. |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Bury War Memorial |
| Designated | 7 April 2017 |
| Reference no. | 1444845 |
Bury War Memorial is aGrade II* listed monument at the corner of Market Place and The Rock, outside theParish Church of St Mary inBury, Greater Manchester, England. It was unveiled on 11 November 1924 by theEarl of Derby to commemorate those who died during theFirst World War and was later updated to include those who died during theSecond World War.
Discussions about creating a war memorial inBury began shortly after the end of theFirst World War. The town's principal commemorative initiative was the establishment of a children's wing atBury Infirmary, a scheme that attracted widespread support and aimed to raise more than £50,000.[1] The proposal to erect a monument initially received less enthusiasm than the hospital project, partly because other memorials were already appearing locally, such as the one outside theLancashire Fusiliers' headquarters atWellington Barracks. However, an anonymous donor resolved any hesitation by contributing £1,000 on the condition that the memorial be sited in the Market Place.[1]
The land for the memorial was donated by theParish Church of St Mary, which contains many memorials to the Lancashire Fusiliers, at the corner of its grounds.[2]
The memorial was commissioned by the Bury War Memorial Committee and was unveiled on 11 November 1924 by theEarl of Derby at a ceremony also attended by theLord Bishop of Hulme.[3] After theSecond World War, additional inscriptions were added to commemorate those who lost their lives between 1939 and 1945.[2]
On 7 April 2017, Bury War Memorial was designated aGrade II* listed building for its architectural and historic significance.[1]
The memorial stands prominently outside theParish Church of St Mary, at the junction of The Rock and Market Place, making it a central landmark in Bury town centre.[4]
The memorial was designed by SirReginald Blomfield, a renowned architect responsible for many war memorials, and sculpted byJoseph Hermon Cawthra.[1] At its centre stands aCross of Sacrifice carved fromPortland stone, rising from an octagonal pedestal. Behind the cross is a curved stone wall that bears two large bronze relief panels, each with symbolic detail.[2]
The left panel depicts members of the armed forces alongside a nurse, with soldiers carrying a stretcher, representing the front-line sacrifices of war. In contrast, the right panel illustrates theHome front, showing figures engaged in coal mining, engineering, carpentry, and munitions work, highlighting the vital civilian contribution to the war effort.[1]
Inscriptions on the memorial include the Latin phrases "PRO REGE" and "PRO PATRIA" at the ends of the wall, meaning "For the King" and "For the Country." The central dedication reads:"TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF BURY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914–1918", later supplemented with "1939–1945" to honour those who died during the Second World War.[2]
The bronze panels were exhibited at theRoyal Academy before installation, underscoring their artistic significance and craftsmanship.[1]
Buildings and structures in theMetropolitan Borough of Bury, England | ||
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