Angel And Dying Soldier On West Side Of WW I Memorial - Stalybridge, UK - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

The memorial takes the form of a picturesque bridgehead, in the shape of eclipse, over the River Tame at the entrance to Trinity Street. It comprises two pedestals, each 10ft high, either side of Trinity Street, and each pedestal bears 8ft high bronze figures. Stretching away from the pedestals are stone walls with the names of the war dead inscribed on granite tablets. Each end of the wall originally had a lion crouching on top of the end of the wall.

The angel's right hand is resting on the soldier's right hand and her left arm is supporting his back. Next to the soldier is an ammunition box and his gas mask.

Facing the war memorial the right hand pedestal’s statue takes the form of a winged angel tending to a dying soldier.

The bronze figures were sculpted by Ferdinand Blundstone who studied near here and for a while lived in Stalybridge. The stone work was done by masons Messrs. William Kirkpatrick Ltd.

The memorial was unveiled on 6th November 1921. Councillor Mrs Summers unveiled the army pedestal. It was dedicated by the Reverend Canon T H Sheriff. It is estimated that about 24,000 people attended the ceremony.

The memorial is an English Heritage Grade II* Listed Building.

Underneath the bronze sculpture of the angel and soldier is the following inscription.

1914 1918
THE MARNE,
YPRES,
THE SOMME.

ALL YOU WHO PASS BY
REMEMBER WITH GRATITUDE
THE MEN OF STALYBRIDGE
WHO DIED FOR YOU.

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Unnamed Figure Type: Combination of two figure types Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Ferdinand Blundstone Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 11/6/1921 Materials used: Bronze figures on a stone pedestal Location: At end of Victoria Bridge on Trinity Street

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Date Logged Log User Rating   11/24/2013 Meirion visited it