Litherland Memorial Trust

The Litherland Memorial Trust

First Published – March 16th, 2024

It was 100 years ago today…

On this day, exactly 100 years ago (March 16th 1924) the Litherland Cenotaph unveiling took place. Placed at the centre of the town, in front of the old Town Hall (now the walk-in centre), it remains a poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by Litherland people. Every year the Remembrance Day parade takes place between this Cenotaph and the memorial tablet at the British Legion site in Orrell Road.

Litherland’s memorials are in need of repair and cleaning. Time has taken its toll, but memories must live on. Our campaign is to restore Litherland’s memorials to good condition. Join the Litherland Memorial Trust campaign by clicking the Join link. 

 

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The Litherland Memorial Trust – announced today – is a fundraising project spearheaded by the Litherland History Society. There are several goals:

Repair the Memorial at Orrell Road

The town’s annual remembrance parade takes place between the Sefton Road and Orrell Road memorial sites. The Orrell Road tablet also records the fallen of the First World War. Originally located at the 1896 Diamond Match factory in Litherland, it was moved to the Mersey Match Works following the factory being destroyed by bombing in May 7th/8th 1941. Since 1995 it has resided back in Litherland at the British Legion Club site. The tablet has however sustained a significant crack (see picture) and major restoration work is needed. 

The Orrell Road memorial tablet showing present day crack damage on right

Renovate the Litherland Cenotaph

The main Litherland Cenotaph is in need of some TLC. Its covered in moss, weeds grow around it, the railings need painting and some of the lettering has become indistinct. The whole edifice needs renovation. The memorial was unveiled on 16th March 1924 The British Legion provided the Guard of Honour, and the Chairman of the War Memorial Committee Councillor R.B. Lee, J.P in his opening address asked the Council to “treat it with reverence, and to keep it always in good condition”. We have approached the council for help, but it won’t be enough. This is why we need your interest and support. It is history repeating itself for the monument was originally raised in part by public subscription. 

The unkempt condition of the Litherland cenotaph

Honour ALL Litherland People Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

The Litherland Cenotaph was raised by public subscription 100 years ago. It currently lists the names of 278 servicemen who lost their lives in the First World War. A small plaque (picture below) commemorates those who fell “during the Second World War 1939 to 1945 and in subsequent hostilities” but their names are not actually listed. The Litherland Memorial Trust wants to rectify this by finding all the names we can and commemorate them for posterity on a website.  We will also commemorate civilian deaths, both men and women. We want to collate all the biographical information that is available, much of which has been painstakingly researched over many years by members of Litherland History Society and local historians.

The commemoration of Litherland’s dead in WW2 and subsequent conflicts

Litherland’s Rich History

Unveiling of the Litherland Cenotaph 100 years ago today (March 16th 1924)

Both the Litherland Cenotaph and the Orrell Road monument have fascinating stories to tell. The Cenotaph’s 1924 War Memorial Committee comprised not only council members, but also representatives from religious groups, trade unions, and local businesses. Made of white Derbyshire stone, the Sculptor (Mr J. W. Boden of Matlock) inscribed the names of the fallen. The Memorial Committee raised £600 (about £87,000 today) which was used for the memorial, hospital beds and scholarships. Money was donated to Bootle Borough Hospital to endow a bed called “Litherland War Memorial Bed”. 

Cenotaph Photos

The pictures below are a small sample of the treasures in The Litherland History Society Archive. By joining the campaign you will be introduced to the Society activities if you are interested in Litherland history. The following pictures show what a central feature the Cenotaph became in the life of the town and how it is still the centre of remembrance ceremonies today. Our view is these monuments and what they represent are too precious to just let rot. We are taking this action to preserve their place in the life of the town for another hundred years. Join the campaign today!

Before the Cenotaph – looking towards Sefton Street in the early 1920s
Procession from Litherland House (the old town hall) to the unveiling ceremony
Blessing of the Litherland Cenotaph by Rev. George Jackson Vicar of St Andrew’s and reading a scripture from the Book of Ecclesiastes
Men with flat caps gaze upon the newly-opened Litherland Cenotaph
Parade at the Litherland Cenotaph in the 1950s
A little girl looks on to the new monument. One wonders how she was affected by the war.
Appearance of the wider street in the 1920s. One of the domed gate entrance pillars is still there.
Appearance of the Cenotaph following its last cleaning in the 1990s
Current condition of the grimy stonework – compare with above
Current appearance of the Cenotaph covered in moss and grime
Current cenotaph railings desperately in need of a lick of paint
Parts of the monument have broken off
The area for the wreathes is growing weeds and needs a spruce up
Opposite the memorial the way it used to be in the early 1970s
Panning further round on Sefton Street shops (photo: Albert Haworth)
Poster Board of the Litherland Cenotaph’s Soldier Biographies from a Litherland History Society Event held in Hatton Hill Park Pavillon
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Orrell Road Memorial Photos

The Orrell Road Memorial sits in garden of remembrance opposite the area where many WW1 soldiers trained for the trenches (see map below). Equally poignantly it is opposite to St Philips Church which features in several contemporary pictures of the camp (see below).  The historic significance of the Litherland Camp is where three legendary war poets – Siegfied Sassoon, Hedd Wynn and Wilfred Owen were stationed. Life was tough in the camp and there was by all accounts an unhealthy “prevailing stench” from the arms manufactory at the Tar Works (located where the present-day Tesco stands). 

The Garden of Remembrance, Orrell Road, location of the Memorial
Close-up of the Orrell Road memorial tablet showing damage
Appearance of the tablet with its headstone
View of St Philips Church from the Garden of Remembrance
St Philip’s Church featured prominently in Litherland Training Camp
The perimeter of the training camp bounded School Lane and Orrell Road
The memorial began its history at Litherland Diamond Match Works opposite Linacre Mission for workers lost in the Great War
The devastating bombing raid of May 5th-6th 1941 destroyed the Litherland Diamond Match Works
As a result of this fire the 1919 memorial tablet was relocated to the company’s Garston Works where it remained until site closure in 1995.
The garden walls are also in a poor state of repair and need cleaning/fixing
The memorial as it appeared when first relocated back to Litherland in February 1995. Compare to today’s condition above.
Litherland historians have researched biographies of people named on the monuments and will consolidate them as a goal of this project. We also restore old photographs for posterity. The above newspaper clipping of Lance Corporal Patrick Colford has been digitally restored by Tracy Williams. Preserving rare Litherland artefacts like this is an important part of the Society’s work.


The Litherland Remembrance Day Parade

The 2023 Litherland Remembrance Day parade shown in the video was on a rainy and cold day but several hundred people turned out to pay their respects. The Trust hopes that this (Centenary) year of the Litherland Cenotaph will spark greater attendance – in the way Litherlanders have done it for over a hundred years. If you are handy with a phone camera please indicate on the joining form below as we need more camera points on the 2024 parade. Remember to gain access and participate in more Litherland History projects join the campaign as below and receive updates on the memorials campaign. 



If you are interested in Litherland History…

Join the campaign. As a valued member, you’ll receive updates on upcoming Litherland History Society talks, exhibitions, and events. You’ll also gain exclusive access to our forthcoming member-only website, “Litherland History Hunters,” where you can delve deeper into the town’s fascinating past.

Let us know your areas of interest on the joining form. We encourage you to express your interests and share this campaign with your friends and family. The more members we have, the stronger our voice becomes in achieving our goals.

Even if you can’t contribute directly, your moral support is still invaluable! Join by filling in the form and spread the word by directing people to this website: https://litherlandmemorialtrust.info 

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