Monday 24 April 2017

Broomhill War Memorial, Greenock

This is the Broomhill War Memorial commemorating those from the area who died in World War I.


It is situated at the corner of Drumfrochar Road, Cornhaddock Street and Broomhill Street.



It was unveiled by Greenock's Provost Thomas Mitchell on 16 April 1920.


There are many names on the Memorial from many different regiments.  A full list of names can be found at Inverclyde's Great War.  At that site you can click on the individual names and find out more about the person.


The site has information about all the War Memorials in the area and if you are researching family from Greenock and surrounding places, this site is well worth a visit.  It is run by the McLean Museum and Inverclyde Council and also provides an invaluable collection of resources about World War I and the local people who gave their lives.

5 comments:

  1. ...hopefully one day we will build peace memorials.

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  2. That is certainly a lovely memorial and very fitting for today in Australia as it's Anzac Day, the day we remember the fallen in the Wars.

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  3. Never noticed that one before. Presumably named Broomhill after bushes that used to grow there perhaps?

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    1. I would imagine that's the reason - lots of broom before the houses got built there.

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  4. The Broomhill War Memorial was sculpted by my great grandfather, a Kennedy, who was one of the 3 generations of Kennedys who were monumental sculptors. Their premises and workshop was in South Street Greenock. Many headstones bearing the name Kennedy on the plinth can be viewed in Greenock Crematorium, the largest municipal cemetery in Europe. Originally the Broomhill War Memorial was on several levels and featured a fountain. It was situated centrally at the junction of Drumfrochar Road and Peat Road. It had a trough for dogs to drink from at the base, next level a trough for horses, then nearer the top, there was a metal drinking cup on a chain which people used to take a drink. The water poured down from the lions' mouths which are still seen at either side of the memorial bearing the names of the fallen. With the advent of the motor vehicle, it was decided to split the memorial and move it aside to its present position at the corner of Prospecthill Street and Drumfrocher Road. The fate or wherabouts of the other sections are unknown. Placed next to St Patrick's Primary School, I understand that the children take responsibility from time to time, tending the memorial to keep it free of litter and weeds.

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