Moulton War Memorial

Moulton War Memorial stands in Main Road, Moulton, Cheshire, England. It consists of a marble statue of a soldier standing on a sandstone pedestal, and is surrounded by a wrought iron fence. The memorial was designed by Samuel Welsby, and unveiled in 1920. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

1. History

At a public meeting in April 1919 it was agreed to form a committee to raise money to create a memorial to commemorate the men of the village who had fallen in the First World War. The land for the memorial was given by Salt Union Limited, and Samuel Welsby was commissioned to design the memorial. It was unveiled on 18 December 1920 by Captain W. H. France-Hayhurst. In 1995 the memorial was moved further back from the road, and was surrounded by paving and by a fence.

1. Description

The memorial consists of the statue of a soldier in uniform standing on a plinth and a pedestal. It stands about 7 metres (23 ft) high. At the bottom is a square base, on which is another base carved to resemble boulders. On this stands a pedestal with a cornice and a plinth; all these are in yellow sandstone. On the plinth is the marble statue of a soldier. He is in the uniform of the Cheshire Regiment, and is standing at ease, holding a rifle. Behind the soldier is a shattered tree trunk. The memorial is surrounded by paving, and a wrought iron fence consisting of railings and ten posts. It is painted black, and on the posts are crosses painted gold. The pedestal and the base bear inscriptions. On the south base is the inscription:

UNVEILED BY CAPTAIN W.H. FRANCE-HAYHURST J.P. DEC 18TH 1920. Above this on the pedestal is the following inscription:

1914-1919 IN MEMORY OF MOULTON MEN WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS." This is followed, in two columns, by the names of those who were lost. On the east side of the base is the inscription:

UNVEILED BY GEORGE A.RISLEY ESQ, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 2ND 1947. Above this on the pedestal is inscribed:

ALSO IN MEMORY OF THE MOULTON MEN WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE GREAT WAR, 1939-1945. This is followed by a list of names and the quotation ""THEIR (or THEY) GAVE THEIR ALL." There is also a plaque in polished granite with gold lettering reading:

V.E. V.J. THEIR SACRIFICE OUR FREEDOM 1945 1995

1. Appraisal

The memorial was designated a Grade II listed building on 12 March 1986. Grade II is the lowest of the three grades of listing and is applied to "buildings of national importance and special interest". There are similar statues on war memorials nearby in Elworth, and in the churchyard of Christ Church, Wheelock. It is not known whether these memorials were also by Samuel Welsby, or whether they represent stock memorial figures.

1. See also

Listed buildings in Moulton, Cheshire

1. Notes and references

Notes

Citations

Sources

Nearby Places View Menu

St Stephen's Church, Moulton

St Stephen's Church is in the village of Moulton, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. and is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich.

Church Landmark

Moulton, Cheshire

Moulton is a civil parish and village in Cheshire, England, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Northwich and 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Winsford.

Neighbourhood

Davenham Hall

Davenham Hall is a former country house to the southeast of the village of Davenham, Cheshire, England. It was built for Thomas Ravenscroft to replace a timber-framed house called Davenham Lodge. It dates from the middle or the later part of the 18th century, possibly from shortly before 1795, when Ravenscroft died. Substantial additions were made in the early 19th century. It is constructed in stuccoed brick, and has a slate roof. The house is in two storeys with a symmetrical entrance front of six bays. Occupying the middle two bays is a porch with four Tuscan columns and an entablature containing a triglyph. Above this, the central bays protrude slightly forwards and contain two windows, with a pediment above them and a parapet on each side. Figueirdo and Treuherz describe the interior as being "especially fine". The entrance hall contains Grecian plasterwork and a black marble chimneypiece. The drawing room has more delicate plasterwork, and a marble chimneypiece decorated with dancing figures. The central staircase hall is lit by a central dome, and has fan-shaped plasterwork. The staircase has a wrought iron baluster, and the first floor landing has a screen of four Doric columns. The house was converted into a nursing home in 1980. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

Historic Site Landmark

Northwich Rural District

Northwich Rural District was a rural district surrounding, but not including the towns of Northwich and Winsford in Cheshire, which were separate urban districts. It was created in 1894 from the Northwich Rural Sanitary District. In 1936, several changes were made to the boundaries of the rural district; the most significant was enlargement due to the abolition of Tarporley Urban District. Before the 1936 changes, the district also surrounded the town of Middlewich. In 1974, the district was abolished and the area along with Northwich Urban District, Winsford Urban District and parts of Runcorn Rural District became the district (later Borough) of Vale Royal. The council was based in Hartford (west of Northwich) which became the headquarters of Vale Royal District Council. The former headquarters site has now been sold and a housing estate built in the grounds.

Government