Orford Park - the town's neglected war memorial (From Warrington Guardian)

Orford Park - the town's neglected war memorial

THE GUARDIAN's correspondence columns have shown readers' concerns about the neglect of war memorials. Few understand that Orford Park is perhaps the most important.

In 1916, due to the efforts of Alderman Bennett, the mansion and 18 acre park were gifted to the town by eight subscribers "who agreed to offer the hall and park as a memorial to the valour of the lads of Warrington in the Great War then in progress."

It is likely that this was occasioned by the involvement of Warrington men in the Battle of Hooge, June 15, 1915. Years after, an Orford man wrote in your paper (letter May 1, 1965); "We gained our objective, but what a price for Warrington to pay, the town was put in mourning. The GUARDIAN headlines were 'The Unbreakable Fourth' (South Lancashire Regiment).

We were proud to be named so. I have no record of the killed and missing, but they were many." Incredibly and to our shame, no memorial stone exists in the park to identify its original dedication.

The park continues to suffer neglect, but its social potential is significant, it lies in the centre of a densely populated ward. The proposed provision of a leisure centre would do much to revive the park; however, the park land area itself should be restored to improve its aesthetic appearance and at the same time increase the outside social facilities which would augment the leisure centre.

Councillor Hannon has shown keen interest in the idea and a letter which I have received from the Heritage Lottery Fund indicates that there would be a reasonable chance of securing funding for the restoration of the park, as well as supporting the leisure centre.

I would like to hear from any of your readers who share my views and particularly those who are concerned that a worthy monument should be erected to the 1,000 Warrington men who died in the Great War and those who fell in the second conflict.

JOSEPH LYTHGOE

Swinhow House

Culcheth

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