War Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing stone Celtic Cross, erected in 1922 as a War Memorial. Set in front of the entrance screen to St. Malachy's Church (HB19/05/001A).

Limestone Celtic Cross, approximately 4 metres tall, carved with Celtic knotwork and cable mouldings, standing on a tapered base and stepped limestone platform.

Inscription to the front west panel reads: '1914-1919, In honour of, those from this district who lost their lives, fighting for King and Country in the Great War. This Cross is erected by their friends and neighbours, in gratitude for their loyalty and devotion.
Ralph Adams, Joseph Alexander, James Andrews, William G. Atkinson, John J. Beattie, James Berry, William J. Berry, Edward Blain, Alexander Boyd, James H. Bryans, William G. Chambers, Geo. Chapman, Albert V. Crangle, Herbert S. Crangle, Richard Crawley,
Oliver Crossey, William Crothers, Thomas Davidson, Hugh Dempster, William J. Dorman, Samuel J. Douglas, Thomas H. Emerson, John Faulkner, Frederick Fenton, James Gibson, Frederick J. Gillespie, Victor A. Gillespie, John W. Gregg, Edward Hamilton, Samuel Hamilton, Robert Harrison, George Heenan, Thomas Henderson, George Jess, Joseph Jess, William Johnston, James Kane, Samuel Kane, Henry Lavery, Stanley Law, James Lunn, Samuel J. Macauley, William Magill, David J. Martin, Thomas Mercer, Thos. Moore, Andrew J. Morrow, John Mulholland, James C. McCalla, John McCarthy, Charles F. McLeavy, Robert H. McMullen, Edward McNamara, Albert V. Neil, William Nelson, Joseph Pentland, Thomas H. Philpott, Jas. H. Scott, Isaiah Singleton, Joshua Singleton,
John Smith.'

The east panel reads: '1939-1945, Killed on active service in the second world war, Oliver Cumins, Twinem Matchett, Joseph Downey, Robert Toman, Edward Ferguson, William J. Wilson, John Hutchinson, Thomas Henry Williamson, Thomas McMullan, John David Wright, Thomas Graham, Desmond J. McMurry'

Setting:
Standing on a paved area in front of the gate screen to St. Malachy's Church on the east side of Main Street.

Historical information

The war memorial on Main Street was unveiled in 1922 and dedicated to the memory of men from the Hillsborough area that had died during the First World War. It was designed in the form of a large Celtic Cross, 15 ft high and made of Irish Limestone. The memorial does not appear in the valuation records for the area. It is situated in a prominent position in front of the gate screen of St Malachi’s Parish Church.

Hanna and Quail tell us that the monument was erected in 1921 and was paid by for by public subscription by the people of the area (Hanna and Quail, p. 29). The unveiling ceremony took place on the 13th May 1922 and a program for the event tells us that the monument was unveiled by the 7th Marquis of Downshire. A Mrs. Thompson (who had lost her son or husband in the conflict) laid the first wreath on behalf of the War Memorial Committee. The main address was given by Colonel W. H. Savage, Commanding Officer of the 13TH Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, who had served with many of the men commemorated on the memorial. The Right Rev. C. T. P. Grierson, Lord Bishop of Down and Connor, gave the dedicatory prayer before the Buglers of the 1st Norfolk Regiment sounded ‘The Last Post.’ The ceremony was flanked by the Hillsborough Castle Guard in their traditional 17th century uniform.

At the base of the memorial an inscription was cut: ‘In honour of those from this district who lost their lives fighting for King and Country in the Great War. This cross is erected by their friends and neighbours in gratitude for their loyalty and devotion.’ The war memorial originally commemorated 72 men from the Hillsborough area, the majority of whom served with the Royal Irish Rifles or the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; however, after the Second World War an additional 12 names were added.

The war memorial was listed category B1 in 1992.

References:

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902-1903
4. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-1920
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14A – Annual Revisions 1864-1879
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14B – Annual Revisions 1880-1889
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14C – Annual Revisions 1890-1908
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14D – Annual Revisions 1909-1928
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14E – Annual Revisions 1928-1930
10. Unveiling ceremony program, 13th May, 1922
(Pamphlet available: http://www.lisburn.com/war_memorials/hillsborough_memorial.html).

Secondary Sources
1. Barry, J., ‘Hillsborough: A parish in the Ulster plantation’ (3rd ed.), Belfast, Universities Press., 1982.
2. Hanna, J; Quail, D., ‘Old Dromore, Hillsborough and Donaghcloney in old photos’ Stenlake publishing, 2002.
3. NIEA File – HB19/05/005.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Free-standing stone Celtic Cross War Memorial, erected 1922 is of a very distinctive design which stands out from the more usual small obelisk war memorials. A tall Celtic Cross commemorating the First World War and the local people who gave their lives in that conflict. It exhibits elaborate stone carvings in the Celtic-Revival style, is a prominent feature in Hillsborough Main Street of and is of historical importance to the local community. The memorial also has group value with the listed gate screen to St Malachy's Church (HB19/05/001A).