War Memorial

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

War Memorial inscribed on its East side ‘ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF NEWTOWNBREDA PRESBYTEREIAN CHURCH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR’. Designed in a Gothic Revival style with some detailing that could be described as Eastern in influence – namely the central ogee shaped dome and corner details. It stands about 2m tall, is square on plan with angled buttresses at each corner, and rests on three broad limestone steps. Each side has a rectangular recessed face, flanked by circular attached colonnettes – the East one is inscribed as above and the West side records, on a granite panel, the names of those who gave their lives. The other two sides are blank. The colonnettes have a carved floral capital that extends around all sides except the East side which has a cusped semi circular arch above the panel containing a
setting sun with a carved laurel wreath in the centre and the dates 1914 and d1918 inscribed in the spandrels.

The limestone memorial is capped with a central ogee dome with a fleur de lys pinnacle. Its short drum has repeating cusped lancet details and below is a cornice of alternating poppy flowers and palm leaves. On each corner, at this level, is a smaller dome reflecting the shape of the central one with unusual flower motifs in an Art Nouveau style.
It does not appear to be signed by the sculptor.

The memorial is located within a semi-circular grassed area in a prominent position in front of the main West facade of the listed Newtownbreda Presbyterian Chuch and close to the Ormeau Road footpath.

Historical information

This war memorial, dedicated ‘to men connected with Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church...who fell in the Great War and also others who gave their services’, was unveiled and dedicated on 1 May 1922. The ‘Belfast News-Letter’ report of the unveiling describes the memorial as ‘a four-panelled monument in grey stone, beautifully sculptured, erected to the memory of those nineteen members of the congregation who made the supreme sacrifice. Their names are inscribed in gilt on the panel facing the roadway, and at the base of the monument lies two wreaths of evergreens as a token of everlasting memory.’

References – Primary sources
1 OS maps, 1931, 1956, 1967
2 ‘Belfast News-Letter’, 1 May 1922
3 ‘Northern Whig’, 1 May 1922

Secondary sources
1 Historical notes supplied by Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church [also available online at www.newtownbreda.org ]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Intricately detailed Gothic Revival style war memorial inscribed ‘ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF NEWTOWNBREDA PRESBYTEREIAN CHURCH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR’. It stands about 2m tall, is square on plan with projecting buttresses at each corner, and rest on three broad limestone steps. It has some Eastern design influences – notably the central ogee dome and there are many symbolic details including poppy flowers and laurel and palm leaves
The memorial is located within a semi-circular grassed area in a prominent position in front of the main West facade of the listed Newtownbreda Presbyterian Chuch – HB26 01 001A, with which it has group value.

General comments

This record has been re-numbered and was previously HB26/01/001.