ROAD

The Park There is decoration on the arms of the cross and The armorial bearings of the Barbour family are his service with the Royal Berkshires. It is likely Cross the road and walk up Church Bank (opposite)

A Circular Walk around the School D an upward-pointing sword on the face of the on the outside of the building. The Institute was his military experiences influenced his thinking to St Alban’s Church 5. On the entrance gates A O R Memorial, below which is an inscription. The officially opened in July 1898 with the intention since he ran the Home with regimental precision. into the Churchyard is a plaque in memory of L L Village of Tattenhall A 7 H plinth has two original bronze plaques and two of providing a public room for parish purposes. Some boys rose at 5.30am to clean and light the Thomas Booth Brierley, a doctor in attendance at N 6 TE T A additional plaques were added in 2005. Of the 44 stoves whilst the other boys rose at 6.30am. All Tattenhall’s Auxiliary Military Hospital during The This heritage trail has been created T to commemorate the Centenary Church names that are recorded on the War Memorial, 34 boys performed chores, undertook 15 minutes of Great War. His son, Lieutenant Roger Christian relate to The Great War. exercises, said prayers, breakfasted and had band Brierley, was killed in Flanders in 1917. Anniversary of the Armistice, 11 5 RWA practice before walking to the village school. Boys 8 BU RDSLEY November 2018. RO Immediately behind the War Memorial and 9 AD returned to the Home for lunch. After school, within Millfield, stands a War Horse Sculpture boys played until tea, said their prayers, had band Post The trail starts at the War Memorial, NE 2. This ‘Horse of War’ was constructed in 2014 LA practice and were in bed by 8.15pm. T Office LD E 4 IE on the High Street. F by local Forge Master, Andrew Smith, to mark the centenary of the start of The Great War. The The Boys’ Home Band was well regarded, being This leaflet provides a lasting legacy sculpture represents a permanent legacy to the called upon to entertain the convalescing soldiers. HIGH STRE which raises awareness and curiosity role of horses in the conflict. Local school children Flacca Field about local heritage and, in particular, 3 voted to name the horse ‘George’. In 1914 the countryside was emptied of many of the role of Tattenhall in The Great START HERE 12 War, 1914-1918. its horses. Farming communities, like Tattenhall, saw their finest animals requisitioned by the Mill Pond government. Horses were vital to the war effort in moving heavy guns, transporting supplies, carrying During The Great War, however, this building was Tattenhall the wounded to Field Hospitals and, in the early Hall transformed into an Auxiliary Military Hospital Tattenhall days of the conflict, mounting cavalry charges. dealing with convalescing and less seriously Enter the Church, within which is a Roll of Honour Centre Contains Ordnance Survey data and various shrines to those who died during 1914- © Crown copyright and database right 2018 wounded servicemen; often designated as ‘sitting cases’ rather than arriving in ‘cots’. Records 1918. The Tilney Shrine on the North Wall is in confirm that one patient was admitted having memory of Major Leonard Arthur Tilney who was a Tattenhall War been severely gassed and he was described as Squadron Commander with the Royal Flying Corps. At the outset of The Great War, Tattenhall, Memorial 1 is a focal ‘progressing satisfactorily at hospital in Tattenhall’. In 1917 he received command of 40 Squadron like other locations, was hugely patriotic. Lads point of remembrance Two such hospitals were located in the village, the which he led with distinction, gaining the Military willingly signed up. That said, Tattenhall was within the village. In the other being at The Rookery Annexe on Chester Cross and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He was a small, well served village. The 1911 Census aftermath of The Great Road. Daughters of the Barbour family served as also made an Officer of the Order of the Crown recorded 1347 people living in the village, the War (1914-1918), families Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Nurses. of Belgium. He was shot down in aerial combat principal occupation being agriculture. The needed a focus for their in 1918, aged 22 years. Leonard’s sister, Susan On leaving the Home, many boys signed up; the village had two stations on the London and grief, loss and pride. Continuing on this side of the High Street, you Agnes Rhodes Tilney, not only nursed wounded Royal Berkshires being a firm favourite because North Western railway; one line between Chester, War memorials were will shortly see Olympus House on your right. This servicemen in Tattenhall but she also served at Red of the close ties that James Hicks had with that Whitchurch and Shrewsbury and the other erected across the UK. 3-storey building, once the Tattenhall Home for Cross Hospital No 2 in Rouen, France. regiment. The Regiment paid tribute to him for between Chester and . The Shropshire Tattenhall War Memorial Boys 4, was opened in 1896 and housed 40-45 ‘sending well-trained lads ... all of whom did well’. On the carved oak screen, is reference to another Union Canal passed through the Parish. The was erected in 1922. It waifs and strays aged 8-15. Married couple, James Many youngsters also signed up as drummers or Tattenhall lad who died. Harry Reynolds Jones village was lit by gas. St Alban’s Church was the comprises a red sandstone and Margaret Hicks, were the first Master and Next to the War Horse Sculpture is an imposing pipers following their training in the Boys’ Home was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. nucleus of the village and a variety of craftsmen Celtic cross on a plinth Matron. red brick building which is The Barbour Band. Several boys lost their lives and the names In 1918, and aged 19, he was killed in a flying were employed locally. The principal landowner and stepped base, and it is Institute 3, erected in memory of Janet At the age of 13, James Hicks (like his father of some are recorded on the War Memorial. The accident, just 8 weeks into service. He is buried in was George Barbour of Bolesworth Castle. approximately 5m high. Barbour on the instruction of her son, George. before him) joined the British Army, completing Home closed in 1936. The Somme. Guy Brodbelt joined the 9th Battalion King’s Whilst Colonel Robert Henry Tilney had a Mary Stoneley. Her son, Guidelines for Walkers Liverpool Regiment. He was killed in action in distinguished military career, his wife, Frances Mary Private George Stoneley, Heritage Trail 1916, having been shot in the head by a sniper. Tilney, worked tirelessly, keeping accurate records one of Tattenhall’s youngest • Leave gates and property as you find them He was 28 years old and is buried in France. of those Tattenhall men who had signed up for casualties of The Great • Be respectful within the Church and service, collecting books and treats for serving War, died of wounds to Tattenhall in His brother, Lieutenant Arthur Dell Brodbelt, Churchyard and during Church Services soldiers, raising funds, and holding informal the abdomen, aged 19. joined the Royal Garrison Artillery and was gatherings of ‘sewing bees’ who busied themselves George Stoneley had been a The Great War • Take your litter home mortally wounded in 1918. He was 32 years old producing clothes for the soldiers. member of the Church Choir, and is also buried in France. • Keep dogs under close control a telegraph messenger at The next gate into the Churchyard is the Clayton Tattenhall Post Office and a 1914-1918 • Be considerate Gate. Immediately to the right of the path stands porter at Tattenhall Station. the Commonwealth War Graves Commission He is buried at Lijssenthoek; (CWGC) headstone of Mathew Boylan; the only Belgium’s second largest CWGC cemetery. This historical trail has been CWGC headstone in the Churchyard relating to produced by Tattenhall Local History. The Great War. Mathew was born in Ireland, Follow the route to the right and in a few metres To find out more about the initially joining the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on your right is the former National School local history of Tattenhall visit Turn right out of the Church Door and keep to and then transferring to the 415th Agricultural 9 which was erected in the mid-19th century. www.tattenhallhistory.co.uk the footpath around the Church Tower which Company Labour Corps. He died in November 1918 During The Great War, the School was regularly leads to the Wignall Gates. Beyond the gates is in Chester’s War Hospital, aged 29. Within the used for meetings, for lectures explaining a substantial black and white building known Churchyard are two other CWGC headstones which issues such as war loans, for lantern slide shows as The Rookery 6. This was once the Wignall relate to WWII. illustrating the conflict, and for talks which family home and housed Tattenhall’s second encouraged individuals to grow their own food Another grave of significance Auxiliary Military Hospital. Located in the Annexe, as well as persuading Tattenhall women to train within the Churchyard it was officially opened in 1918 although up to to work on the land. The School also raised relates to a Tattenhall 12 soldiers were already in occupation. Mrs Edith monies to purchase tobacco and cigarettes which woman who was active in Marguerite Wignall was appointed ‘Commandant’ were then sent to front-line troops. Teachers Like other wealthy local families, the Brodbelts the war effort. Marjorie of both Hospitals. She was awarded the MBE for and scholars at the School also entertained had close connections with the community. They Smyth not only qualified as her Red Cross Work. wounded soldiers with concerts, tea and further not only lived at Fairfield House and Brook Hall, a VAD Nurse in 1915, but she entertainments. Some nurses worked in both hospitals, as well as substantial local properties, but played active also joined Chester Remount serving in France. VAD Nurse Miss Elizabeth Cooke roles within the Church. The family also paid for Depot No. 2. Remount Continue along the High Street and your trail is Pte. G Stoneley, Cheshire Regiment with over 5,000 hours of service, also received the full restoration of the Church Porch in 1870. depots were ‘convalescent’ homes where sick or complete. special mention from the British Red Cross Society injured army horses were taken, in order to be Continue along Chester Road. The next gate into Funded by Redrow Homes for and the Order of St John for her valuable war made fit for service. In the Chester depots, up to the Churchyard is The Tilney Gate which is housed the community of Tattenhall work in Tattenhall. 40 horses were cared for at any one time between two sandstone pillars. On the inside of www.redrow.co.uk As you leave the Wignall Gates turn right along the the left-hand pillar is inscribed the following ‘In Keep to this side of Chester Road, past Alpha pathway and immediately right along Chester Road Memory of Colonel Tilney DSO and Mrs Tilney House (1894) on your right, and continue to the 7. To your right is the renovated Brodbelt Family who for many years lived in Tattenhall’. Two of T-Junction of Chester Road with Grave. Surviving members of the Brodbelt family their children, Leonard and Susan, have been Road and the High Street. commissioned the complete restoration of this mentioned previously but the influence of the On the corner 8 was located No.1 High Street, grave in 2014 as part of the centenary anniversary Tilney family within the village during the war formerly a grocery and tobacconist shop run by Leaflet artwork by MA Creative • www.macreative.co.uk of the start of The Great War. should not be over-looked.