Frodsham War Memorial

Frodsham War Memorial is a stone obelisk crowning Overton Hill above the town of Frodsham in Cheshire. It commemorates local people killed in both world wars and serves as a landmark that can be spotted from far around.

What is it?

The memorial occupies the crest of Overton Hill. Built of sandstone, it rises roughly 11 metres. A three-step podium carries a square plinth bearing the names of the dead, and an obelisk tops the whole. Historic England gave it Grade II status in December 1985. A separate Grade II entry from July 2017 covers the gates and railings around it.

When was it built, and by whom?

Sources disagree slightly on the date. The national heritage listing gives 1919, while the Imperial War Museum and Frodsham Town Council point to 1921. According to the IWM, it was unveiled and dedicated on 24 October 1921. Captain Frederick Jardine Barnish is recorded as architect, with T Lunt and Co of Chester as builders. The gates and railings went up in 1921, were taken down, and were put back around 1946.

Whose names are inscribed?

The IWM register lists 105 names from 1914 to 1918 and 34 from 1939 to 1945. In recent restoration work the town council arranged cleaning and repointing of the obelisk and base, and announced that names missing from the original monument would be added.

Why is it on a hilltop?

The choice of site was not universally welcomed. Most of the men who died came from Frodsham itself rather than Overton, which is why a second memorial stands in St Lawrence's Churchyard. For the hilltop, several landowners handed plots to the parish council in the early 1920s on condition that the land stay open space for local people.

How to visit

There is no admission charge, as the memorial stands in open ground. The Frodsham Hill area is a popular walking spot with views over the surrounding landscape, so the obelisk pairs well with a short walk on the hills above town. Take a moment to read the inscriptions and look at the gates and railings, which are a listed structure in their own right.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee?

No. The memorial stands on publicly accessible hill land.

Is the memorial a listed monument?

Yes. The obelisk has been Grade II listed since 1985, and the gates and railings have their own Grade II listing from 2017.

How many names does it carry?

The IWM register records 105 from the First World War and 34 from the Second.

Is there another war memorial in Frodsham?

Yes, one stands in the churchyard of St Lawrence, closer to the heart of the old settlement.