Listed Building: Brimington Memorial Gates (1453565)

'First World War memorial gates erected in 1925, with later additions. Reasons for Designation Brimington Memorial Gates, erected in 1925, are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: Historic interest: * as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20. Architectural interest: * as a well-composed and finely detailed memorial of rusticated stone and decorative ironwork, demonstrating a high quality of craftsmanship. History The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Brimington as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial gates in Brimington were erected in 1925 to commemorate the 120 local servicemen who died during the First World War. The gates originally formed the entrance to the Brimington Miners Welfare Sports Ground but in 1958 the site was redeveloped for housing by Chesterfield Rural District Council. The gates were rededicated with the names of the 35 fallen from the Second World War added. Details First World War memorial gates erected in 1925, with later additions. MATERIALS: sandstone gate piers with wrought iron gates and bronze plaques. PLAN: the gates are located at the junction of Broom Gardens and Manor Road. EXTERIOR: the memorial consists of a central pair of rusticated gate piers, flanked by two shorter piers forming pedestrian access, from which extend low stone walls supporting railings. These form a semicircle and terminate in rusticated piers. All six piers have a deep moulded cornice surmounted by a pyramidal capstone. The central four piers bear bronze plaques inscribed TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ ROLL OF HONOUR/ IN SACRED MEMORY OF/ THOSE GALLANT MEN/ OF THIS VILLAGE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR US/ followed by their names. At the base of two of the plaques is 1939 – 1945. The two central taller piers have carved laurel wreaths above the plaques and semicircular stone projections at the base which may have formerly supported brackets or decorations. The decorative wrought iron gates are painted green and have scroll and foliate details which are continued in the railings. The main gates have two panels which read 1914 and 1918 in gold lettering.'