Irvine War Memorial

Image: © David Dixon Taken: 25 Sep 2019

The town’s market cross-style war memorial was built in 1921 and was paid for by public subscription and erected directly outside Irvine’s Townhouse in High Street. It was moved from the road to a spot adjacent to the Townhouse in 1952 but the creation of the Portal leisure centre paved the way for the memorial to be moved back to a position close to its original location where it was rededicated in January 2018. The memorial is in the form of a columnar shaft capped by heraldic lion sedent on a crown with a shield below. The octagonal base has inscribed bronze panels on each face naming War dead (list of names at http://www.happyhaggis.co.uk/ayrshire-irvineWW1.htm ). The panel facing High Street is inscribed: Tandem Bona Causa Triumphat* To the memory of the men of Irvine who died in the Great War on the field of battle or from wounds or sickness but who all alike gave their lives for their country. This mercat cross was restored** in 1920 by public subscription in token of sorrow for their loss and of pride in their valour. The memorial is a Category B listed building (Historic Scotland LB44668 http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB44668 ). * Tandem Bona Causa Triumphat translates as “The good cause triumphs in the end” ** It is not clear if the shaft is truly a 'restoration' of an extant market cross reported as removed from the adjacent site in 1694, or if the reference on the plaque to 'restoration' simply refers to the style of the monument, as seems more probable.

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