This Grade I Listed war memorial is one of eight cenotaphs in England designed by Lutyens. The earliest to be erected was at Southampton in 1920; the last at Norwich, in 1927.  English Heritage explains that, "A public meeting in Rochdale on 10 February 1919 decided that there should be a physical memorial to commemorate the war as well as a fund to provide for the dependents of servicemen who had been killed or disabled."  After some changes in the plan Lutyens final design was, "... built by Hobson Ltd of Nottingham at a cost of £12,611, out of a total fund collected of £29,443 10s. It was unveiled by the Earl of Derby on 26 November 1922 and dedicated by the Archdeacon of Rochdale. ..... The cenotaph, c10m tall, stands on a further six steps. It comprises a rectangular pier which recedes as it rises to a tall, narrower pier with stout semi-columns to the north-west and south-east sides. The abacus carries a further plinth which supports a catafalque bearing a draped recumbent figure. .....



...... Against the upper plinth rest carved wreaths enclosing the arms of Rochdale. From the lower plinth project four carved, painted, flags. On the south-west side are the Union Flag (left) and White Ensign (right); on the north-east side the RAF Ensign (left) and Red Ensign (right). The flagpoles finish in decorative pinnacles which are encircled by laurel wreaths."

The inscription read as follows:

(south-west) 1914 – 1919/ 1939 – 1945

(north-west) TO THE MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF/ ROCHDALE/ WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR

(north-east) MCMXIV/ + /MCMXIX/ ET/ MCMXXXIX/ +/ MCMXLV

(south-east) THEY WERE A WALL/ UNTO US BOTH BY/ NIGHT AND BY DAY