War Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing World War One Portland stone memorial, erected c.1920, set upon a raised grassy island at the junctions of Mill Street and Grand Street.

Hexagonal Portland stone monument executed in ashlar with domed top, resting on pedestal formed by two hexagonal steps. The domed top rises from a hexagonal band bearing an inscription...
”Erected in abiding and grateful memory of the men from Hilden, Glenmore, and Lambeg who gave their lives in defence of empire home and liberty in the Great War of 1914-1918. May the undying memory of their devotion be to all who read the names an inspiration to serve their country promote its welfare and give thought for peace and happiness.”

Below are three stylised buttresses, the alternate sides forming three recessed panels bearing the names of the fallen (117 in total) on bronze plaques. Below each bronze panel is an inscribed stone each bearing the place names...’Glenmore’ to northwest, ‘Hilden’ to east, and ‘Lambeg’ to southwest. Set within cobblelock on a raised island laid out in grass enclosed by a low redbrick wall with three cast-iron bell-shaped bollards to the corners.

Historical information

The war memorial is first shown, captioned, on the fourth edition OS map of 1920-1.

According to ulsterwarmemorials.net “When the 36th and 16th Divisions started out on their way to the front, the women of Hilden, Glenmore, and Lambeg, formed a guild with the object of collecting funds and sending out parcels and comforts to the men at the front. Collections were made and entertainments given to raise funds wherewith to provide materials that could be worked up into comforts for the troops, and to obtain suitable presents for enclosure in the parcels. These were then made up and sent out regularly to the front, every possible care being exercised to try and keep in touch with the men individually, and supply them with parcels. The good work was kept up onto the end of the war, when, after meeting all expenses, the guild had on hand out of the fund which they had raised, the sum of £60 1s 3d.

When the need for sending parcels to the front ceased the thought of the guild turned to the memory of those who had given their lives in the great war, and they decided that they would like to see their memory perpetuated by the provision of bronze plaques with the names thereon, which might be placed in some suitable place in the locality.”

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/64/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-1
2. PRONI OS/6/1/64/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1920-31
3. PRONI OS/6/1/64/6 – Sixth Edition OS Map 1920-39

Secondary Sources

1. www.ulsterwarmemorials.net

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Free-standing limestonestone war memorial set on a traffic island in the village of Hilden. Commemorating the soldiers who lost their lives in the first world war, this understated monument expresses the architectural styles of the time with its overall Art Deco profile and classical mouldings. Formed in quality Portland limestone ashlar, this monument adds a decorative early twentieth-century element to the streetscape of Hilden and is of historical and social interest to the local community.