Rhynie and Kearn War Memorial

Heritage listing

Category B Date Added 08/07/2003 Local Authority Aberdeenshire Planning Authority Aberdeenshire Parish Rhynie NGR NJ 49845 27126 Coordinates 349845, 827126 — Robert Warrack Morrison, sculptor (working for Morren & Co.); 1920. Tall, narrow WWI and WWII memorial with mourning infantryman, set within rectangular-plan enclosure. Grey granite base and cornice, with battered, polished black granite pedestal between. Stepped rectangular-plan base with segmental WWII memorial projecting to SE; pedestal with dedication 'ERECTED IN MEMORY OF / THE MEN FROM THE / PARISHES OF RHYNIE AND KEARN / WHO SERVED THE CAUSE OF / FREEDOM & RIGHT IN THE / GREAT WAR 1914-1919 / AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / THOSE NAMED HEREON WHO / FELL IN THE GREAT CONFLICT' / 'THEIR NAMES LIVETH FOR EVERMORE'. Pedestal bears life-size granite figure of infantryman with head bowed, leaning on rifle. Roll-of-honour to remaining elevations of pedestal. Low decorative cast-iron railings and gate to enclosure. — A good example of a figurative memorial to the First World War. It is set within the Square at the centre of the village of Rhynie, with the separately listed Parish Church closing the NW end. The memorial was unveiled on 30th May, 1920 and is a prominent feature in the townscape. Robert Morrison (1890-1945) was a gifted carver who was known for his attention to detail. He was a fast worker, being able to carve the figure of a soldier in six weeks as opposed to the usual six or nine months. He produced a number of memorials in northeast Scotland, including that at Tarland (see separate listing). Listed building record updated in 2014.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.