Coagh Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall 1920.

33 Urban Road, Coagh, County Tyrone.

Now demolished.

Coagh War Memorial Hall was opposite Coagh Presbyterian Church.

The photograph clearly shows a hall in a semi-derelict condition unlike in 1920, when judging from the following description of the unveiling and dedication, the hall was a very impressive building indeed.

‘Facing the county road, the building is finished in ornamental concrete, on which the inscription stands out in relief

  “Coagh Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Hall, A.D. 1920.”

In the centre is a memorial window of stained glass, on which is predicted a soldier’s grave, surmounted by a cross, on either side of which stands a soldier and sailor holding a laurel wreath, and overall, the picture of a dove, with outstretched wings, and beneath the words- 

“Lest we forget.”

The arched entrance to the vestibule is guarded by a collapsible gate. To the left a staircase, with solid mahogany rail, leads to the gallery, while to the right is a convenient cloakroom. The swinging doors leading into the main hall are of polished oak, with inset stained glass panels, bearing the inscription, “The glorious dead.” On each side of the door is erected a massive bronze tablet of beautiful design and workmanship, one of which bears the 33 names of the fallen, underneath the inscription-

“In proud and grateful memory of those who left this district to fight in the cause of liberty and justice, and who laid down their lives in the great war, 1914 – 1919”-

and the other the names of those who served.

The main hall, including the gallery, has seating accommodation for 400 persons. A small staircase on either side of the back gives access to the stage from the ante-rooms behind. The front portion of the hall is seated with chairs, and in the back portion and gallery the seats are of pitch pine. Entering the back portion of the building by a side door a staircase leads to a commodious room upstairs, having ample accommodation for smaller meetings, for which the space afforded by the main hall would not be required. Beneath this room are two small rooms, with doors leading into the stage, and fitted up with all necessary requirements for using them in conjunction with the larger rooms.’

Dr. Burges, chairman of the hall trustees, presented a silver key to Lady Craig, wife of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, and asked her to declare the hall open.

Mrs. Lennox-Conyngham afterwards unveiled one of the memorial brasses which contained the names of the fallen, and Mrs. R. J. M’Keown unveiled the other, on which was inscribed the names of those who had served.

Although the inscription above the door dates the hall as 1920, it was not officially opened until 1921.

===========================================================================

 If you can supply additional information or photographs about this or any other memorial, or wish to make comments, suggestions, requests, etc. please e-mail

contact@ulsterwarmemorials.net.

All contributions will be acknowledged.

Up