Accrington Pals Memorial Garden Transformation Complete
In a move to enhance the environmental quality and appeal of Accrington’s town centre, Hyndburn Borough Council has successfully completed the transformative £260,000 project for the Accrington Pals Memorial Garden. Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund’s commitment to supporting Communities and Place, this project aims to create a greener, more inviting space that honours the area’s rich heritage.
The project focused on uplifting the Pals Memorial Garden on Church Street, Accrington, into a welcoming public place for relaxation and reflection. Central to the town centre, the garden now stands as a crucial open space, offering a peaceful haven amidst urban life.
The garden underwent a complete overhaul of its layout and structural improvements were also made to enhance the existing memorial’s setting. Plans are underway for a new sculpture in the seating area by the Accrington Pals Memorial, adding an appropriate artistic dimension to the space.
The Project was led by the Accrington Town Centre Board and the Council, with support from many local organisations including Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, Accrington and Rossendale College, the Royal British Legion, YNOT Aspire, the Chamber of Trade and Lancashire County Council.
Councillor Kimberley Whitehead, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage, Parks & Open Spaces said, “I’m delighted to see that work has now completed on this site. The Accrington Pals Memorial is an important feature for this town and helps us recognise the sacrifices made by thousands of our residents all those years ago. The garden is a beautiful public space for people to enjoy and also provides a fitting location for numerous services held there throughout the year, including those to commemorate Armistice Day, Battle of the Somme and many more. I’d like to thank all those involved in the delivery this of this project.”
Cath Holmes, representing the Accrington Pals Commemorative Group said, ““The Accrington Pals Memorial Garden stands as a poignant tribute to our town’s rich history and the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women. This beautifully revitalised space honours their memory and significantly enhances this town centre space, providing a serene and reflective environment for our community to remember and pay their respects. This redevelopment has been of great personal significance to me as my Great Uncle Walter (Holmes) joined the Pals before moving to the Machine Gun Corps. My father, Walter, along with his best friend, Bill Turner, gave decades into researching the Pals and others from Greater Accrington area who served in WW1.”
Work commenced in January and was completed in June 2024.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund continues to invest in communities and place, supporting local business, people, and skills. For more information, visit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund website.
ENDS
Notes
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus