War Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A Portland stone memorial by F.W. Pomeroy commemorating the two world wars and dating from 1922, with bronze figure of a soldier on a tapering Portland stone obelisk, bronze female figure holding a wreath, and bronze commemorative plaques. Located in front of the entrance to the Town Hall (HB03/18/001) at the western end of Church Street in Coleraine town centre.

Stone obelisk engraved at east face, reading “IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF COLERAINE WHO LAID/ DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ 1914-1918 WAR/AND THE 1939-1945 WAR/ THEIR MEMORY LIVETH/ FOR EVER MORE”. Under is the bronze figure of the draped female standing on a semi-circular stone base and reaching up to attach a laurel wreath. Commemorative plaques to three faces bear names of those lost in both wars; granite plaques under are inscribed with names of those lost in more recent conflicts. Obelisk surmounted by bronze figure of a soldier wearing a helmet and holding a rifle.

Setting:

The memorial is situated directly in front of the entrance to the Town Hall (HB03/18/001), at the western end of the most major throughfare in Coleraine town centre.

Material: Portland stone and bronze

Historical information

Coleraine War Memorial dates from 1922 and is the work of Frederick William Pomeroy, a noted English sculptor and also responsible for several of the memorials in the grounds of Belfast City Hall (www.dia.ie). The memorial is first shown on the fourth edition OS map of 1923.

A decision was taken to erect a war memorial in Coleraine in the early 1920s to commemorate the heroic contribution which Coleraine had made to the war effort, one thousand local men having taken part, equal to almost thirteen per cent of the population. The memorial, which cost £1,800, comprises a granite base and step with a shaft of Portland stone topped by Pomeroy’s bronze soldier. Standing on the plinth below is a female figure, representing a daughter of Erin placing a wreath in remembrance. One of the builders of the memorial, a bricklayer called Joseph Kerr McClelland who had served in the war, laboured all night to get the memorial ready for dedication the following day. McClelland developed pneumonia and was ill for a considerable time, eventually recovering to live a long life in Coleraine (Thompson; www.ulsterwarmemorials.net) The memorial was listed in 1993 (HB file).

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/7/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
2. PRONI OS/6/5/7/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1949
3. HB file – 03/18/026

Secondary Sources

1. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in Coleraine and Portstewart” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1971-2
2. Thompson, R “Coleraine Heroes 1914-18”
3. www.dia.ie
4. www.ulsterwarmemorials.net

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A landmark Portland stone and bronze memorial by F.W. Pomeroy commemorating the two world wars and dating from 1922. Located in front of the entrance to the Town Hall (HB03/18/001) at the very western end of Church Street in Coleraine town centre. The bronze sculpture depicts a soldier wearing a helmet and carrying a rifle, and a draped female figure attaching a laurel wreath to the obelisk. Coleraine War Memorial is a fixed memorial of high artistic and craft value, by a leading British sculptor, commemorating those who lost their lives in both World Wars. As such, it is an important example of the work of F.W. Pomeroy and is of significant social importance to the local community.

General comments

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