Nicholson War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nicholson War Memorial |
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| General information | |
| Type |
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| Address | Sparrow Park |
| Town or city | Leek |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 53°06′20″N 2°01′15″W / 53.10562°N 2.02076°W |
| Inaugurated | 20 August 1925 |
| Renovated | 2010–2012 |
| Height | 90 feet (27 m) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Thomas Worthington & Sons |
| Main contractor |
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| Designations | Grade II listed |
| Renovating team | |
| Renovating firm | Prestec Ltd. |
The Nicholson War Memorial in Leek, England, is a tall tower built in 1925. It was created by Sir Arthur Nicholson and his wife, Lady Marianne. They wanted to remember their son, Basil Lee Nicholson, who died in World War I. The memorial also honors all the brave local people from Leek who lost their lives in World War I and World War II. Today, it lists the names of 535 men and women.
It is one of the tallest war memorials in England. It stands 90 feet (27 m) high. The memorial was carefully repaired between 2010 and 2012.
Contents
What the Memorial Looks Like
This memorial is a special building, listed as Grade II. It is made of red brick and covered with Portland stone. The tower has four large clock faces. Each clock face is 2.06 metres (6.8 ft) wide and lights up.
You can also see beautiful wrought iron and bronze gates. There are also lamp posts that add to its design. The famous company Thomas Worthington & Sons designed the memorial. The special name tablets were made by The Birmingham Guild of Artists.
The memorial was built by Messrs E & A Frith and Mr Thomas Grace. A blacksmith named Mr Hart made the metalwork.
The Clock and Bells
The clock inside the memorial is very special. It was made by Gents' of Leicester. This company also made the five bells. All the bells together weigh 1,270 kilograms (2,800 lb).
Opening the Memorial
The memorial was officially opened on Thursday, August 20, 1925. The ceremony started at 2:30 PM. A Thursday was chosen because many local shops closed early that day. Many factories also closed to show their respect.
Basil's brother, Falkner Nicholson, led the ceremony. His other brother, Malcolm Nicholson, was also there. A special tablet with names was uncovered by two Boy Scouts. These boys, Frank Prime and Cyril Plant, had each lost their fathers in the war. Sadly, Cyril Plant later died in World War II while serving in the Royal Navy.
At the ceremony, the land and building were given to the Trustees of the Leek Town Lands. They were also given to the Leek Urban District Council. These groups agreed to take care of the memorial for the people of Leek. Later, in 1974, the Leek Town Council took over this important job.
Around the top of the memorial, you can see names of battles. These battles involved soldiers from Leek. They were part of the 46th (North Midland) Division. This division included local groups like the Old Leek Battery. It also included battalions of the North and South Staffordshire Regiments.
Restoring the Memorial
Years later, the memorial needed some repairs. It received a grant of £178,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. A company called Prestec Ltd. helped restore the tower. They also replaced the old clock mechanism.
Changes were made inside the building too. This was so people could visit and go inside. The memorial reopened for public tours in 2012. A group of volunteers, called The Friends of the Nicholson War Memorial, now give guided tours.
The original clock mechanism is now on display. You can see it in a local museum.
