Congleton Cenotaph now displays just over 600 names of all the local men and women who lost their lives through serving their Country.
Like all towns, villages and cities in Great Britain, the cataclysm of the First World War changed life in Congleton as men failed to return from the bloody conflict. The names of men who died in the Second World War and in later conflicts have been added to the memorial since it was built in 1923.
In 2021, after years of planning, the newly renovated Cenotaph now displays just over 600 names of all the local men and women who lost their lives while serving their Country. The Lawton Street site is now a safer, more attractive, and fitting place for people to visit.
“It is important that we remember and honour all the local people who have lost their lives whilst serving their country. I am delighted that we finally have a cenotaph site that does this, and I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible. The dedication to the previous site was held on the 11 November 1923. We hope that local people will continue to come to this site to reflect and remember for many decades to come.” Former Town Mayor, Councillor Denis Murphy
Congleton Town Council is the custodian of the Lawton Street War Memorial, which continues to be the focal point of the Remembrance Sunday commemorations, held on the second Sunday in November. This day is dedicated to honouring all those who gave their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today. Each year, working closely with Congleton’s branch of the Royal British Legion, the community comes together in quiet reflection to give thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In the nearby Community Garden, you will find the statue of George Harold Eardley, who was awarded the country’s highest honour, the Victoria Cross, for his gallantry at Overloon in 1944. Eardley was 32 years old, and an acting sergeant in the 4th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, British Army during the Second World War when he was awarded the VC. He had earlier been awarded the Military Medal for outstanding courage in action at Beny-Bocage. Near the entrance to the Garden, you will also find the statue of Treo, an army dog who was awarded the Dickins Medal for saving many lives in Afghanistan. Treo spent his final years in retirement with his handler here in Congleton.
Treo 63 DM was a hero army dog who was responsible for saving many lives in Afghanistan.
Treo was awarded the Dickins Medal, the animal equivalent to the Victoria Cross.
Company Sergeant Major George Harold Eardley
A British Army soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Celtic Wheel stands proudly at the centre of the Cenotaph
Remembrance Sunday Parade 2024
After years in the planning, the newly renovated Congleton Cenotaph was officially unveiled at a dedication event on Sunday 19 September 2021.
The project was headed up by The Congleton Partnership in conjunction with Congleton Town Council supported by a band of volunteer residents, members of local organisations, businesses, and councillors. The old site was showing signs of wear, had poor access for anyone with a disability and more crucially, close on 250 names of the casualties were not recorded on the plaque. The Cenotaph stands on the site of where the town’s market cross used to be.
To right this wrong, the plans involved extending the site to include more plaques for the names, situating three flagpoles and developing an improved elevated position for the retained 1920’s granite Celtic Wheel to stand proudly at the centre of the new Cenotaph. The refurbished memorial site now benefits from improved access for all and a much-improved landscaped appearance.
Portland stone plaques, quarried in Dorset were sourced to contain the 250+ names added to the Great War listing, some of which died of their war wounds as late as 1932. A service person killed in an airship disaster in 1923 is also included. The 14 panels have been engraved to the standard required by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The work has been carried out by Midland Masonry, specialist in this kind of work. Project managed by John K Carter with Quantity Surveyor support from Mark Spendor (Stringer and Pickford).
To make the build possible, Congleton had three years to raise the necessary funds. Consultations, exhibitions, presentations, appeals, social media and articles in the Congleton Chronicle helped to drive the fundraising activity.
Most funds needed to complete the project were raised through grants and pledges. To carve the names alone onto the new stones amounted to £19,000. The Congleton Partnership and Congleton Town Council would like to thank the residents, relatives of the fallen, local trusts, local businesses, local clubs and organisations, as well as local statutory bodies, for their kind and generous donations.
The renovated Congleton Cenotaph site was opened with a parade and service on Sunday, 19th September 2021. You can watch a video of the day below.
The Cenotaph, before works began, the original cast iron name plates can now be found just inside the Town Hall entrance.
