Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial

Hoylake and West Kirby War Memorial crowns Grange Hill in West Kirby, on the Wirral peninsula in Merseyside. A four-sided granite obelisk roughly 14.5 metres (48 ft) high, it is visible from well beyond the hill and commemorates the people of West Kirby and neighbouring Hoylake who died in the two World Wars.

Who designed it, and when was it unveiled?

The sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885–1934) drew up the design. He is also remembered for the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in London. The memorial was unveiled on 16 December 1922. Names from the Second World War were added later, the Imperial War Museum records a further ceremony on 22 October 1949, and the name of a soldier killed in Afghanistan was added in October 2009.

What will you see there?

The slender obelisk is the centrepiece, and bronze figures on its faces represent war and peace. Inscribed names run around the base. The IWM register describes the setting as a hilltop of rough grass and scrub, so the monument stands in open ground and not among buildings.

Take time to look at the lettering and sculpture up close. Some inscribed letters have suffered from weathering and vandalism (the register notes incidents in 1988 and 1995), which is why the memorial has needed conservation attention over the years.

Is the memorial protected?

Yes. It is entered on the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England, with a listing date of 24 March 2011. In the IWM War Memorials Register it carries reference number 1273, and its condition is rated fair.

How do you get to the memorial?

West Kirby is the terminus of Merseyrail's Wirral Line, with regular trains from Liverpool. From the station it is about a kilometre to Grange Hill, with an uphill finish. By car, follow the A540 towards West Kirby and leave the car in the town, then walk up. Access is free: the memorial stands on open public land.

When is the best time to visit?

You can visit all year and at any hour. Clear days are best, because the hill looks across the Dee estuary towards the Welsh coast. Remembrance Sunday in November brings local commemorations to the memorial, which is the moment to choose if you want to see it in its intended role.

What else is nearby?

West Kirby is known for its Marine Lake promenade and for views of the Hilbre Islands, and the Wirral Way, a path along a former railway line, starts here. A walk up Grange Hill combines easily with a stroll along the shore.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the West Kirby war memorial? Charles Sargeant Jagger, the British sculptor who also made the Royal Artillery Memorial in London.

When was it unveiled? On 16 December 1922.

How tall is the obelisk? About 14.5 metres, built in granite.

Is there an entrance fee? No. The memorial stands on an open public hill and can be visited free of charge at any time.