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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Matlock Men WW1 Tablets

    Main Memorial

    Source: Copyright Grahame Boyes

    1/2

    Current Location

    On the north wall of the nave, St Giles Church, Church Street, Old Matlock, Derbyshire Dales, Derbyshire, DE4 3BW, England

    OS Grid Reference

    SK 30079 59768

    Denomination

    Church of England

    View location on Google Maps

    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-14171

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    Type of Memorial
    Board / Plaque / Tablet
    WMR Reference Number
    14171
    Description
    The memorial comprises a large rectangular (portrait-oriented) stone tablet bearing the dedicatory inscription, and three large rectangular (landscape-oriented) tablets engraved with the names of those who died. (The second of the three 'names tablets' is set into the wall below the dedicatory stone; the other two 'names tablets' are set into the wall a few feet away, to the left and right of that central stone; the three names tablets are separated by windows.). The dedicatory tablet has a gothic arch (that incorporates acanthus leaves), two pilasters, and a cornice with two brackets. Between the finials of the pilasters is a panel containing symbols of war, i.e. a tank, a warship, an aeroplane and a field gun, all of which are carved in high-relief. The inscription below is in raised gilt lettering. The lettering on the tablets bearing the names is incised.
    Inscription
    (Dedicatory tablet): VALIANT IN FIGHT/ SACRED/ To the memory/ of the/ MATLOCK MEN/ who fell in the/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919/ REMEMBER THEM O LORD OUR GOD/ Faithful unto death (Three associated tablets): (NAMES)
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    185
    Died
    185
    Information shown
    Initials, surname, decorations
    Order of names
    Mainly alphabetical by surname, across the three tablets, but the 9 final names on the third tablet are out of sequence (having been added after the memorial was erected).
    Maker(s)
    • J. W. Boden, Stone Carver

    Maintenance History
    22nd June 1950: St Giles church was listed Grade II*, Heritage List for England number 1247838.// 7the July 1920: The memorial was unveiled, bearing 176 casualties' names. On an unknown later date, 9 further names were added to the third of the 'names tablets'.

    Ceremonies

    Dedicated

    7 July 1920

    Custodian
    Church of England

    Components

    Plaque

    Height: 2600mm

    Width: 1450mm

    Depth: 270mm


    Made from: Stone - Mansfield


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II*

    List Entry: 1247838

    Dedicatory tablet

    Tablet

    Height: 1070mm

    Width: 2250mm

    Depth: 75mm


    Made from: Stone - Mansfield


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II*

    List Entry: 1247838

    Left tablet of names

    Tablet

    Height: 850mm

    Width: 2900mm

    Depth: 75mm


    Made from: Stone - Mansfield


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II*

    List Entry: 1247838

    Centre tablet of names

    Tablet

    Height: 1070mm

    Width: 1730mm

    Depth: 75mm


    Made from: Stone - Mansfield


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II*

    List Entry: 1247838

    Right tablet of names

    • Derbyshire Courier 10/7/1920 (page 1) reported the unveiling of the memorial: '“VALIANT IN FIGHT.” Church Memorial to Matlock’s Fallen. The sacrifices of Matlock's men in the war was brought home effectively to the large congregation assembled in Matlock Parish Church, on Wednesday, to witness the dedication of the memorial placed on the north wall of the building to the 176 local men who lost their lives on the various battle fronts. The memorial, designed and executed by Mr J. W. Boden, local sculptor, is in Mansfield white stone, richly carved. Part of the design is symbolic of the war and shows representations of a warship, a tank, an aeroplane, and a field gun, The inscription, in gilt, runs: "Sacred to the memory of the Matlock men who fell in the War, 1914-1919. Valiant in fight. Faithful unto death". On each side of the tablet are two massive slabs of Mansfield stone bearing the following names: ...' https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000395/19200710/010/0001
    • Historic England's record of the Grade II* Listing of St Giles Church on 22/6/1950 can be found at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1247838
    • Details of the memorial, including the dedicatory stone and all three of the stone tablet bearing the names, can be found at https://www.derbyshirewarmemorials.com/ddales/14171/14171.html
    • Photos of all three names panels of the memorial are at https://www.crichparish-ww1.co.uk/ww1webpages/stgilesplaques.html
    • Details of St Giles Church, including mention of the memorial, can be found at https://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/churches.htm#sg