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Matlock & Matlock Bath : The War Memorials |
Matlock and Matlock Bath lost many of its young men during the
First and Second World Wars. To acknowledge their service to
their country and help future generations remember their sacrifice,
two large war memorials were constructed at the end of the First
War.
Memorials were also built at Scarthin and Starkholmes.
We will remember them
About the Memorials
Matlock | Matlock, Hall Leys
| Matlock Bath | Scarthin
| Starkholmes
Commemorative Souvenirs | Further
Information
For Names on the Memorials use the menu on the right
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 Matlock |
The War Memorial for Matlock is in Matlock Town near St. Giles'
Church, at the summit of Pic Tor. Inscribed on bronze tablets
are the names of 179 men who died in the Great War of 1914 -19.
The monument is made of gritstone taken from local quarries.
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It was described in the High Peak News of August 13,
1921 as 'a memorial visible for miles around' and the photograph
above shows this statement to be no exaggeration. Matlock Bank,
in the background, spreads across one of the opposite hillsides.
The memorial was unveiled by Mr. F. C. Arkwright of Willersley,
whose son's name was listed amongst the fallen. His son-in-law
was also a Casualty of War.
The commemoration ceremony took place on a rainy Sunday afternoon,
and the memorial was unveiled in front of 'one of the largest
gatherings of residents in the history of Matlock'. Costing
£500, it was designed by Mr. W. N. Statham and erected by Mr.
J. W. Wildgoose. The men who died were also remembered on the
floral tributes that were sent by relatives, friends, comrades,
workmates, Matlock Urban District Council, the Scouts and Guides,
the Matlock Rifle Club, Sunday Schools and local people who
had known them. The most poignant tributes to read are perhaps
those from the small children whose young fathers had died in
the conflict.
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There is are lists of names of the fallen, including both some
additional names that are inscribed on stone tablets at St.
Giles' and names of men who were born in Matlock but have moved
away, elsewhere on this site.
 Names
on Matlock's War Memorial A - J
Names
on Matlock's War Memorial K - W
Matlock's
First World War Casualties Not Listed on the Memorial
About
St. Giles Church
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On the right is a postcard produced only two years after the
memorial was unveiled. It was published by Charles Colledge
of Matlock and postmarked 4th July 1923. |
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Image kindly donated by Photo-Ark
© 2003 |
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| Matlock, Hall Leys |
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The Memorial on the Hall Leys, close to Matlock Bridge, is
more accessible than the one on Pic Tor and commemorates those
who died in both Wars, although individual casualties are
not named. The poppies on the wrought iron surround replicate
the poppies of Flanders Field. The inscription reads:
IN MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO FELL
IN THE TWO WORLD WARS
1914-1918
1939-1945
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| Matlock Bath |
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This beautiful memorial is situated at the northern end of
the Promenade Gardens near the River Derwent and, was unveiled
on 21 May, 1921 - a bright, sunny afternoon - by Mr. F. C.
Arkwright.
The pedestal was made from of Cornish Granite and the figures
were carved in Carrara, Italy, out of the local marble taken
from quarries known to the Romans. Lead lettering was used.
It cost £700 and the contractor was James Beresford &
Sons of Belper.
Although it was designed for Matlock Bath, Charles Beresford
(unrelated to the contractor) has told the webmistress that
two copies were made - one for Cannock in Staffordshire and
one for Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire.
The monument lists the names of those who died in both wars
and the money for it was raised from public subscriptions.
The original inscription, on the East Side, said: 'Erected
by voluntary subscription by the inhabitants of Matlock Bath'.
This was removed to make room for the names of those who died
in the Second World War, but its traces can still be seen.
The Parish Council takes good care of the memorial. It is
professionally cleaned every two years.
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Matlock Bath's War Memorial |
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For those who like old postcards, on the right is another
picture of the Great War Memorial, Matlock Bath, surrounded
by poppy wreaths to remember the fallen. Although the card
was not posted, it dates from about 1925.
Names
on Matlock Bath's War Memorial
There's an enlargement of the inscription, a list of all the
names of those who lost their lives and background information
about Matlock Bath's Casualties of War.
The men who died are also remembered at Holy Trinity Church.
About
Holy Trinity Church
Not everyone who fought in the War died, of course.
Matlock
Bath Men Serving King and Country, 1914 lists some of
those who enlisted at the beginning
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Image kindly donated by Photo-Ark
© 2003 |
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| Scarthin |
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Constructed next to the Greyhound Pond, Scarthin's
Memorial bears the names of Casualties from both the First and
Second World Wars. It is difficult to photograph this memorial
without it being surrounded by cars!
Names
on Scarthin's War Memorial.
There's an enlargement of the inscription from WW2, a list of
all the names of those who lost their lives and background information
about Scarthin's Casualties of War. |
| Photo © Charles
Beresford 2006 |
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| Starkholmes |
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Although the young men of Starkholmes are commemorated on
Matlock's memorial at Pic Tor, it was decided they should
have their own memorial. It was built by Mr. J. W. Widgoose
and is on land given by Mr. Arkwright and cost £180,
raised by voluntary contribution. The dedication ceremony
took place on 23rd November 1919.
The memorial at Starkholmes is high on the hillside overlooking
Matlock Bath. This photograph shows the memorial set against
the background of Masson hillside. The cable car going up
to the Heights of Abraham and part of Matlock Bath on the
other side of the valley can be seen.
Made from local stone, the memorial takes the form of a carved
Runic cross. The circle in the centre of the cross bears the
words:
THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES.
Names
on Starkholmes War Memorial.
There's an enlargement of the inscription, a list of all the
names of those who lost their lives and background information
about the Casualties of War. There's also a photograph of
the other side of the Memorial.
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Photo © Charles Beresford
2006 |
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| Commemorative Souvenirs |
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China replicas of Matlock Bath's War Memorial have become
collectors' items. Second only to the Cenotaph in London,
more china replicas were made of Matlock Bath's War Memorial
than of any other War Memorial. Some collectors have twelve
or more different versions, which range from 120 mm to 200
mm in height.
On the left is a model of Matlock Bath's memorial made in
England by the Victoria China Company at some stage during
the 1920's.
On the right is a model of the same memorial but this time
bearing the crest of Brighton in East Sussex. There isn't
a memorial in Brighton of this design. The china was manufactured
and then open to all comers. Towns from all over the United
Kingdom who wanted to sell such souvenirs put their own crest
on it. The Brighton china model was made slightly later in
the 1920's than the English version, when the post war anti-German
ill-feeling had died down.
Manufacturers included Norfolk, Podmore, Shelley and Saxony
and some of the overseas versions were put into a catalogue.
There's a book called "Take 'em Back to Dear Old
Blighty" by Robert Southall ISBN 0903852144 pub.
Milestone Publications that may be of interest for those wishing
to collect souvenir china of memorials.
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The china replica of Matlock's memorial on Pic Tor (left)
is a "Willow" model and the town's coat of arms
are underneath the inscription.
The inscription reads:
1914 - 1919
IN GRATEFUL AND LOVING
REMEMBRANCE
OF OUR MEN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
FOR
FREEDOM
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"HE LIVES IN FAME
THAT DIED IN VIRTUES CAUSE"
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Images of china
models kindly donated by Peter Allen
© 2006 and 2008
The webmistress is not a collector, and the information about
the models has been provided by Charles and Peter. |
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| Further Information |
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The National Reserve was formed before the First World War.
Empire Day
Parade, 1914, gives details of the Matlock men who participated
in the parade taken from a contemporary newspaper report, and some
notes on joining up and conscription elsewhere on this site.
There are a few
newspaper cuttings, containing small details on Matlock Bath
and its War effort, for the years 1914,
1915, 1917 and 1919 elsewhere
on this site. The two newspapers, The High Peak News and
The Derbyshire Times, regularly carried very full reports
about the casualties and some local men made fairly regular contributions
to these papers.
External links (will open in a new window):
The
Commonwealth War Graves Commission provide further details about
those who died.
The
Royal British Legion supports ex servicemen
Some of those commemorated at Matlock are also remembered in Tansley
Church
See
Denys Gaskell's website.
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