Bridge of Remembrance
| Bridge of Remembrance | |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | |
Bridge of Remembrance, Christchurch
|
|
| For New Zealand dead of World War I New Zealand dead of World War II |
|
| Unveiled | 11 November 1924 |
| Location | 43°31′59″S 172°38′00″E / 43.5331°S 172.6334°ECoordinates: 43°31′59″S 172°38′00″E / 43.5331°S 172.6334°E |
| Designed by |
William Gummer (architect) Frederick George Gurnsey (stonemason) |
|
Quid non pro patria
|
|
| Designated | 2 April 1985 |
| Reference no. | 289 |
The Bridge of Remembrance is one of two main war memorials in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is dedicated to those who died in World War I, and serves as a memorial for those who participated in two World Wars as well as subsequent conflicts in Borneo, Korea, Malaya, and Vietnam. Owned by Christchurch City Council, it is located on the Cashel Street Bridge at the head of City Mall. The Bridge of Remembrance was repaired and strengthened following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and was reopened with a rededication ceremony held on Anzac Day in 2016.
The archway was built over the east end of the Cashel Street bridge that links Oxford and Cambridge Terraces over the Avon River. It became a pedestrian precinct on Anzac Day (25 April) in 1977. East of it is the business district and the main pedestrian mall. In the area between the bridge and Victoria Square are the Floral Clock, Law Courts, Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, Our City and the Scott Statue.
Edward George Wright, a civil engineer and contractor, won the contract of building a bridge over the Avon River at Cashel Street and completed the work in May 1873. Wright was paid £509 for his work, but there was in addition a separate tender for work on the approaches.
The idea of building a memorial arch on top of the existing bridge, a "Bridge of Remembrance", was first raised in a letter to The Press on 24 July 1919, written by Mrs Wyn Irwin. The suggestion found support from the public. Construction began on 23 January 1923. The cornerstone was laid by Lord Jellicoe, Governor-General and Admiral of the Fleet on Anzac Day, 25 April 1923, when the religious blessing was invoked by Archbishop Churchill Julius.
...
Wikipedia