Nicholson War Memorial
Nicholson War Memorial | |
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General information | |
Type |
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Address | Sparrow Park |
Town or city | Leek |
Country | England |
Coordinates | 53°06′20″N 2°01′15″W / 53.10562°N 2.02076°WCoordinates: 53°06′20″N 2°01′15″W / 53.10562°N 2.02076°W |
Inaugurated | 20 August 1925 |
Renovated | 2010–2012 |
Height | 90 feet (27 m) |
Design and construction | |
Architecture firm | |
Main contractor |
|
Designations | Grade II listed |
Renovating team | |
Renovating firm | Prestec Ltd. |
Website | |
nicholsonmemorial |
The Nicholson War Memorial in Leek, Staffordshire, England is a 1925 war memorial.[1][2] It was commissioned by local manufacturer Sir Arthur Nicholson and his wife Lady Marianne, née Falkner,[1] in memory of their son Lieutenant Basil Lee Nicholson, who was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium, in 1915, at the age of 24; and in memory of all the other local men who died fighting in World War I.[1] It now has plaques commemorating and naming 535 Leek and district men and women who died during World War I and World War II.[3]
It is one of the tallest war memorials in the country at 90 feet (27 m)[1] and was restored in 2010–2012.[3]
Structure and design[]
It is a Grade II listed[3] building in the form of a red-brick tower[2] clad in Portland stone,[1] with four 2.06 metres (6.8 ft) diameter,[1] illuminated clock faces.[3] There are decorative wrought iron and bronze gates and lamp standards.[3] It was designed by , of Manchester,[1] with tablets designed by The .[1] It was built by Messrs E & A Frith of Macclesfield and Mr Thomas Grace of Leek.[1] The ironwork was made by a blacksmith called Mr Hart, of Salford.[1]
The clock mechanism and the five bells were made by Gents' of Leicester.[1] The bells weigh 1,270 kilograms (2,800 lb) in total.[1]
Dedication[]
The memorial was officially opened and dedicated on Thursday 20 August 1925 at 2.30 pm.[1] A Thursday was chosen as it was the day of for local shops.[1] Many local factories also closed that afternoon, as a mark of respect.[1]
Basil's brother Lt Colonel Arthur Falkner Nicholson (known as Falkner Nicholson) presided at the dedication.[1] The other surviving brother, Lt Col Malcolm Nicholson, was also present.[1] A dedication tablet was unveiled by Lieutenant General Sir Charles Harington Harington, at the time General Officer Commanding, Northern Command,[1] and the dedication was by Lionel Payne Crawfurd, the Bishop of Stafford.[1]
Two memorial tablets listing the names of the dead were unveiled by two Boy Scouts, who had each lost their father during the war, Frank Prime and Cyril Plant.[1] Plant died during World War II, serving with the Royal Navy.[1]
At the ceremony, the deeds to the land and the building were presented to the and to , who agreed to accept responsibility for the memorial on behalf of the people of Leek.[1] inherited that responsibility on their formation in 1974.[1]
Around the top of the memorial are the names of battles involving the 46th (North Midland) Division, which included the Old Leek Battery and the Territorial 1/5th and 1/6th Battalions of the North and South Staffordshire Regiments, in which men form Leek served.[1]
Restoration[]
Following a £178,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund[3] the tower was restored by Prestec Ltd. of Lichfield[3] and the clock mechanism replaced.[3] Alterations were made to the interior of the building, to allow public access.[3]
It reopened for public tours in 2012.[2] Guided tours are provided by members of a voluntary group, The Friends of the Nicholson War Memorial.[2]
The original clock mechanism is now on display in a local museum.[3]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "The Memorial". Nicholson War Memorial. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Staffordshire war memorial opens up for guided tours". BBC. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Nicholson War Memorial, Leek". Prestec Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
External links[]
- World War I memorials in England
- World War II memorials in England
- Monuments and memorials in Staffordshire
- Buildings and structures in Leek
- Clock towers in the United Kingdom
- 1925 establishments in England
- Grade II listed buildings in Staffordshire