Building record 3884/1/6 - Wellingborough War Memorial

First World War memorial, designed by Walter Talbot Brown and unveiled on 6 November 1918.

{1} Reasons for Designation
Wellingborough War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an ornate and striking design with well-carved figurative sculpture;
* Designer: as an excellent example of the work of prominent architect Walter Talbot Brown;
* Group value: with All Hallows Church (Grade I), All Hallows Church Hall (Grade II*) and Priory Cottage (Grade II).

History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Wellingborough as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was given by Mrs Sotheby of Ecton the widow of Major-General Sotheby who had been killed in 1915. It was designed by Walter Talbot Brown an architect based in Wellingborough. He co-wrote with architect J A Gotch, Architecture of the Renaissance in England, published in 1894. His partnership, W Talbot Brown and Fisher, carried out the restoration of St Peter and St Paul Church, Great Bowden, 1886-7, and St Peter’s Church, Belton-in-Rutland, 1897-8. He exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1881 and 1909. He was also responsible for the war memorial in Wellingborough on Broad Green (Grade II).

The memorial was built by T H Higgins and the sculpture was the work of A Reynolds and Son of Northampton. The memorial was unveiled on 6 November 1918.

Details
MATERIALS: Clipsham stone.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located within the churchyard of All Hallows, Wellingborough. It consists of a hooded Calvary cross with figures to either side of Christ of St John and the Virgin Mary. It rises from a tapering octagonal shaft with square base on a chamfered square plinth. The whole is set upon a two-stepped octagonal base with platformed upper faces.

One face of the plinth has INVICTIA PAX carved on it in raised lettering. The top step reads PRAY FOR THE GALLANT MEN/ WHO FROM THIS TOWN GAVE/ THEIR LIVES FOR TRUTH AND/ FREEDOM IN THE GREAT WAR.

<1> https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, War Memorials Online, War Memorials Online, accessed 21 Sept 2016 (Website). SNN110618.

<2> Imperial War Museum, War Memorials Register, War Memorials Register, accessed 21 Sept 2016 (Website). SNN110619.

<3> Historic England, The National Heritage List for England, Date first listed: 20-Jan-2017 (Website). SNN113215.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:16PM