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Limavady, Co. Londonderry: War Memorial Institute

Soldiers open an Institute to remember the dead after the war

In the County Derry town of Limavady, the soldiers who returned from the war chose to commemorate it with a difference. Instead of a memorial in the form of an obelisk, they set up a War Memorial Institute in the town. It was a place to meet, to play games, to read the books in the Institute’s lending library.

The building -- known as Bridge Hill House -- had belonged to the Boyle family. On the 4th of March 1922, the Institute building was dedicated by Major General Sir Oliver Nugent – a former commanding officer of the 36th (Ulster) Division. A plaque to mark the occasion states that the Memorial will β€œforge by the memory of valour and self-devotion, a fresh bond of union and friendship among all who dwell in this district.”

In 1972, the building was badly damaged in a bomb attack on the nearby police station, which left two men dead. It has since been replaced by the United Services Club, which continues to be a meeting place for local people with links to the armed forces. The Club also houses many memorabilia dating back to both world wars, and to more recent years.

Location: Limavady, Co. Londonderry.BT49 9DF
Image: A postcard of the War Memorial Library as it was originally known

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Duration:

5 minutes

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