Madeley War Memorial

Russell Square, Madeley, Wrekin, Shropshire, TF7 5BB

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Overview

First World War memorial unveiled in September 1920 with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438118
Date first listed:: 13-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Madeley War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Russell Square, Madeley, Wrekin, Shropshire, TF7 5BB

User submitted image — Uploaded by Historic England War Memorials This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438118
Date first listed:: 13-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Madeley War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Russell Square, Madeley, Wrekin, Shropshire, TF7 5BB

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Russell Square, Madeley, Wrekin, Shropshire, TF7 5BB

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Telford and Wrekin (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Madeley
National Grid Reference:: SJ6956804433

Summary

First World War memorial unveiled in September 1920 with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Madeley War Memorial, unveiled in September 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: an elegant obelisk memorial with carved decorative details.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Madeley as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was first dedicated in September 1920 to those who lost their lives in the First World War and again in November 1949 to those who fell in the Second World War; Lord Forester attended both ceremonies with local clergy and dignitaries.

The memorial was first sited in the middle of the crossroads of the junction of Church Street, Park Street and Park Avenue: however, in the 1970s it was moved to its current location because it was thought to be a traffic hazard.

In 2001, the name of leading aircraftwoman Margaret Hall, of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and a member of the British Red Cross, was added. She was the daughter of Albert and Maud Alice Hall of Madeley and died on 21 November 1941 aged 19.

Cleaning and replacement of missing lettering also took place then.

Details

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises an obelisk surmounting a two-staged square chamfered plinth. On the front face of the obelisk is a Sword of Sacrifice and a wreath carved in relief. Underneath this is a recessed panel with the principle dedicatory inscription TO THE/ GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ THOSE MADELEY MEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WARS/ 1914 – 1919/ 1939 – 1945.

Names of the fallen are inscribed in black lettering on marble tablets on all four sides of the plinth, 99 for the First World War and 25 for the Second World War. Under those is the inscription THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

The plinth is set upon a single-stepped base.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 19 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
Madeley, accessed 21 July 2016 from http://www.madeleylocalhistory.org/buildings/warmem01.html
War Memorials Online, accessed 19 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/202320
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 July 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/57372

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.