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Port Sunlight War Memorial Cenotaph, Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight War Memorial Cenotaph, Port Sunlight
The Port Sunlight War Memorial, located in Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, England, was commissioned by William Lever in 1916 to honor his workers who died in the First World War.
Key Facts
- Location: Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, England
- Commissioned: 1916
- Designer: Goscombe John
- Unveiled: 1921
- Theme: “Defence of the Realm”
- Features: Runic cross, bronze statues, reliefs
- Listings: Grade I
Overview
The Port Sunlight War Memorial, located in Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, England, was commissioned by William Lever in 1916 to honor his workers who died in the First World War. Designed by Goscombe John, it was unveiled in 1921. The memorial features a granite runic cross with bronze statues and reliefs, themed “Defence of the Realm,” and lists the names of employees who died in both World Wars. It is a Grade I listed building.
William Lever, founder of Port Sunlight and its soap factory, was keen to have a war memorial for his workers. As chairman of the Empire War Memorial League, he commissioned Goscombe John in 1916. The memorial, built by William Kirkpatrick Limited, was unveiled on 3 December 1921 by Sergeant Eames and Private Robert Cruickshank, chosen by ballot among Lever’s ex-servicemen.
The memorial stands at the intersection of The Causeway and The Diamond. It includes a granite runic cross on an octagonal plinth with eleven bronze figures, surrounded by a circular parapet with four seating areas and flower beds. The figures depict soldiers, a nurse, a woman with infants, a girl with her brother, and a Boy Scout. The parapet features reliefs of children and services like Naval, Military, Anti-Aircraft, and Red Cross.
Inscriptions on the plinth honor those who served and died, with specific mentions of Sergeant Eames and Private Cruickshank. The parapet bears the inscription “DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI” and other commemorative texts.
Designated as a Grade II listed building in 1965 and upgraded to Grade I in 2014, the memorial is noted for its realism and emotional impact. Critics have praised its moving nature, though some found it too realistic for its setting. The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner and others have acknowledged its genuine emotional resonance.
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