WW1 MEMORIAL GOES BACK ON PUBLIC DISPLAY AT ECCLES LIBRARY

Eccles Carnegie Library is the new home to the Patricroft Steam Shed Memorial where it is now on public display in the main library area. The memorial moved from its original home of Patricroft Steam Sheds to Monks Hall Museum in 1971, after that it was kept by Salford Museum from the 1980’s after the closure of Monks Hall as a museum. 

The steam sheds, opened in 1885, were the base for 32 locomotives where they were maintained and their duties arranged.

The brass memorial had been kept in secure storage at Salford Museum and Art gallery, but after a campaign by SWARM (Salford War Memorials) led by public plea on social media, and the help of Salford Community Leisure meant it was on permanent display in time for Remembrance 2018.

Eccles Community Committee used their budget to pay for the memorial to be put in place.

It was originally unveiled on Saturday 21 July, 1923, as a token of appreciation of the service given by the 128 men of the Patricroft Steam Sheds who fought in the First World War. Of the 128 who served between 1914 and 1918, 27 were either killed, died of wounds or illness in places which include The Somme, Gallipoli, Selonika and Palestine.

Because of the nature of the work employees of the Patricroft Sheds were taken from a wide area including as far off as Wales as well as local areas such as Eccles, Salford, Wigan, Crewe and Ashton.

During the four year conflict the 27 men who died served with various regiments and corps including, The Lancashire Fusiliers, The Manchester Regiment, The King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, The Royal Engineers, The East Lancashire Regiment, The Monmouthshire Regiment, The Royal Welch Fusiliers, The South Wales Borders, The Royal Garrison Artillery, and the Royal North Lancashire Regiment.

Councillors Margaret Morris and Barry Warner are the armed forces champions at Salford City Council. Councillor Morris said: 

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“It is fitting that the memorial is back on display in time for Remembrance Sunday – to honour the fallen and those who gave their service in the First World War. Thanks to SWARM and Salford Community Leisure for working so hard to get it back on public display”

Councillor Warner added: 

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“All those listed are real people who went away to fight for this country. They paid the ultimate sacrifice and our thoughts are with them and their loved ones as we now live our free lives in this country.”