War Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A castellated two-stage blackstone tower war memorial by T.A. Johnston, commemorating those who lost their life during World War I; constructed 1924 and located at the southern end of Main Street in Garvagh town centre. Square plan on a concrete stepped plinth. Constructed of squared rock-faced blackstone with concrete dressings. Second stage is topped by battlements with attached metal flagpole to east face; Roman numeral clock face in incised concrete surround and six recessed rectangular louvered openings, in a 3-2-1 arrangement, to all four sides; lower stage has recessed marble inscription plaques to three sides engraved with the names of the fallen and doorway containing metal door with slide bolt to west face. String course between stages is inscribed “For God” (S) “For King” (E) “For Country” (N). Lintel above memorial plaque to east reads “THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918”; lintel to west door reads “T.A JOHNSTON. ARCHITECT/ TT FLEMING BUILDING CONTRACTOR. GARVAGH/ A.L MANN. CLOCK CONTRACTOR/ J McAFEE, SCULPTOR, COLERAINE.”

Setting:
Prominently sited at the southern end of Main Street adjacent to, and forming an attractive group with, the castellated rubble stone boundary walls of Garvagh Museum, formerly the site of Garvagh House. To southwest are also ornate cast-iron gates to Garvagh Museum, supported on tall square rubble stone piers topped by flat caps and ball finials.

Material: Squared rock-faced blackstone with concrete dressings

Historical information

Garvagh War Memorial dates from 1924 and is first shown, captioned, on the fourth edition OS map of 1924-33. Thirty-two men from Garvagh were killed during the First World War and in 1919 an unofficial committee was formed to raise funds for a memorial. Initial fundraising proved successful and an elected committee, including Daniel Boyland JP who had lost his son in the conflict, took the project forward.

The form of the war memorial is an unusual one and has its origins in a plan for a six-sided clock tower designed by John Robinson & Son of Belfast which was ultimately dropped due to lack of a suitable site and insufficient funds. The present site was given by Edward Stronge of Garvagh House and a local man, Thomas Johnston of Lisachrin designed the tower that was ultimately built. The building contract was carried out by Thomas Fleming of Killyvalley and the stonemasons were John Lamont and Robert and Hugh Faith, whose brother had been a war casualty. (Thompson) The name of J McAfee, sculptor of Coleraine, appears on the memorial with the names of architect, building contractor and clock contractor, and it is McAfee who was presumably responsible for the inscription, “For God, For King, For Country” and the carving of the names.

The concrete base had been laid by June 1923 and building began on 3rd September. The clock, made by Midland Clock Works of Derby and installed with the assistance of local man A L Mann, was in place by the end of February 1924. The clock has four dials each three feet in diameter, which are lit up at night and two bells, weighing 6cwt, which strike the hour. (Thompson; www.ulsterwarmemorials.net) The memorial cost £850 in total all but £100 of which was raised by public subscription. (Thompson)

The unveiling ceremony took place on 27th March 1924 led by Captain Charles Stronge of Lizard Manor, Mrs Stronge being asked to start the clock. The memorial carries the names of thirty three men who died and a further 139 who returned, including seven nurses. Thomas Hall, whose name was omitted in error from the list of those who died, was added after the unveiling, although his name appears on the list of those who served. As was usual, the names of the fallen from the Second World War were later added to the memorial. (Thompson)

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/18/1 First Edition OS Map 1832
2. PRONI OS/6/5/18/2 Second Edition OS map 1849-53
3. PRONI OS/6/5/18/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904-05
4. PRONI OS/6/5/18/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1924-33

Secondary Sources

1. Thompson, R “Garvagh and Aghadowey Heroes 1914-18” Bushmills: Robert Thompson, 2008
2. www.ulsterwarmemorials.net

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A landmark castellated blackstone tower war memorial by T.A.Johnston, commemorating those who lost their life during World War I; constructed 1924 and located at the southern end of Main Street in Garvagh town centre. An unusual form of war memorial and an imposing feature on entering the town from the south. Clock-face to four sides and inscribed marble plaques to three sides bearing the names of those lost in World War I. Garvagh War Memorial is a fixed memorial of significant architectural interest, and is also of social and historical importance to the local community.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.