War Memorial, Thurso

War Memorial, Thurso

ID: QZP40_CARD_5910 DESCRIPTION: Located in Sir John's Square, Thurso's War Memorial was designed by Percy Portsmouth and completed in 1922. The bronze statue depicts Victory, resting his hand on the head of a small boy, representing Peace. The town of Thurso was created a burgh of barony in 1633. In 1719 the burgh and the lands of Thurso were obtained by the Sinclairs of Ulbster, and in 1798 Sir John Sinclair (1754-1835), the financier and agriculturalist, laid out a 'new town' adjoining the original medieval burgh. It is after him that Sir John's Square is named. Construction of Thurso's 'new town', of which Sir John's Square was a part, began around 1800. The streets were laid out on a regimented grid-pattern, in stark contrast to the older streets nearer to Thurso Bay. In 1812, Captain John Henderson in his 'General View of the Agriculture of the County of Caithness' wrote that, "The New Town on Thurso was planned...according to the most regular plan that could be contrived and in a manner not only ornamental but also positively well adapted for preserving the health & promoting the convenience of the Inhabitants". PLACENAME: Thurso OLD COUNTY/PARISH: CAITHNESS: Thurso SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Highland Libraries' Postcard Collection Asset ID: 37547 KEYWORDS: