New Brighton War Memorial

Grade II listed war memorial made in 1921 by William Birnie Rhind and the architect’s firm of Thornton & Sons Ltd.

New Brighton War Memorial is constructed of Portland stone with a pedestal surmounted by three carved figures from the Armed Forces.

The Memorial stands on Magazines Promenade in front of the former Liscard Battery’s east wall of 1858, which was abandoned in 1912 after a long period of disuse. It overlooks the River Mersey with views up to the Crosby Channel. It has a large, carved square pedestal with a carved laurel leaf band and triglyph band to the bottom, and a carved egg and dart band to the top, which is set below a cornice. The pedestal is set upon a stepped, circular plinth and surmounted by carved figures of a standing British soldier holding a rifle, a kneeling British sailor holding an anti-aircraft round and a seated Colonial soldier with a pistol. The curved east face of the pedestal depicts a carving of the Wallasey coat of arms above an inscription, which reads ‘1914/1919/TO THE GLORY OF GOD/AND IN HONOUR OF THE BRAVE MEN OF THIS BOROUGH/WHO SERVED IN THE GREAT/WAR AND TO THE LOVING/MEMORY OF THOSE WHO/MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE’. Inscriptions to the south and north faces read ‘1939-1945/IN HONOUR OF/THE MEN AND/WOMEN WHO/SERVED IN THE/ARMED FORCES/IN THE SECOND/WORLD WAR’ and ‘AND OF/THE MEN AND/WOMEN WHO/SERVED IN CIVIL/DEFENCE AND/THE AUXILIARY/FORCES/1939-1945’ respectively. The memorial contains a casket inside which holds a Book of Remembrance recording the names of 848 men lost during WWI; an identical copy is held within Wallasey Central Library. The entire memorial is enclosed by eight low, circular Portland stone pillars connected by chains, which are in turn enclosed by a later set of black and gilded railings set in a square arrangement.

New Brighton war memorial was erected in 1921 to the designs of the Scottish sculptor, William Birnie Rhind (1853-1933) and the architect’s firm of Thornton & Sons Ltd. The memorial was constructed by Briggs & Thornley and was unveiled on 26th January 1921 by Lord Derby. £6,000 was raised by public subscription, of which £2,500 was used to pay for the memorial and the remainder being used to fund the extension of the Victoria Central Hospital. Inscriptions honouring those who served during WWII were added later.

• Historic interest: It has strong cultural and historic significance within both a local and national context
• Commemorative: It forms a poignant reminder of the effects of tragic world events on this local community and unusually commemorates both men and women
• Design quality: It was designed and sculpted by the notable Scottish sculptor, William Birnie Rhind and has a striking design and composition incorporating carved figures of a British soldier and sailor and a Colonial soldier in contrasting poses looking out over the River Mersey
• Setting: The memorial is enhanced by its setting on Magazines Promenade overlooking the River Mersey and Liverpool, and with the east wall of the former Liscard Battery as a backdrop.

Created: 6  April  2021  Edited: 29  November  2023