War Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A granite obelisk war memorial, erected c.1925, located on the North side of Main Street, Groomsport, overlooking the harbour.

The memorial consists of a dressed granite obelisk, mounted on a stepped base, all set on concrete paving bounded by pre-cast concrete edgings.

The memorial faces south. A bronze wreath and applied lettering reading: “Erected by public subscription; in grateful memory of the men of this district who fell and served in the Great War, 1914-1919” are affixed to the principal face with a list of the fallen. East and west faces have lists of those who served abroad affixed.

An additional polished granite plaque is set onto the base of the monument at south, inscribed with a roll of honour for World War II.

Setting

The memorial is set in a grassed public park and accessed by tarmac paths. Tennis courts and a playground are located to the west and north-west respectively with views over the harbour and the coastline to the north.

Walling: Granite

Historical information

The ‘War Memorial’, captioned on the fifth edition OS map, was unveiled and dedicated on 27th December 1924.

The site for the memorial was the gift of Miss Anna Perceval-Maxwell, of Groomsport House, and Colonel the Right Hon. R D Perceval-Maxwell, DL. The Rev. Dr. Major-General Simms, MP, unveiled the memorial and offered the Prayer of Dedication.

The dedicatory inscription reads: “Erected by public subscription in grateful memory of the men of the district who fell and served in the Great War. 1914-1919”.

The memorial was originally enclosed by an iron railing and gates, the space between the base of the railings and the base of the column being filled in with snow-white stones. The first survey photograph shows this area filled with gravel, now replaced by paving slabs. (www.ulsterwarmemorials.net)

References:

Primary Sources

1. Fifth Edition OS Map 1939 - PRONI OS/6/3/2/5
2. Belfast Newsletter, 29th December 1924

Secondary Sources

1.First Survey Information
2.Patton, M, “Bangor, An Historical Gazetteer” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999
3.www.ulsterwarmemorials.net

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A granite obelisk war memorial erected c1925, commemorating the fallen from the Great War and prominently located in a public park, overlooking the shore. An additional polished granite plaque was added at a later date and inscribed with a roll of honour for World War II. Its setting has been degraded by the loss of the railings. A modest example of the type exhibiting simple proportions and workmanship, it is of some social & historic importance.