Weston Rhyn War Memorial

Junction of Station Road and Bronygarth Road, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7RQ

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Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled February 1921, with further names added after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1439575
Date first listed:: 07-Nov-2016
List Entry Name:: Weston Rhyn War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Junction of Station Road and Bronygarth Road, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7RQ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1439575
Date first listed:: 07-Nov-2016
List Entry Name:: Weston Rhyn War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Junction of Station Road and Bronygarth Road, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7RQ

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:: Junction of Station Road and Bronygarth Road, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 7RQ

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

District:: Shropshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Weston Rhyn
National Grid Reference:: SJ2835435682

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled February 1921, with further names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Weston Rhyn War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a simple wheel-head cross incorporating stone seats make this a striking and unusual memorial.

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.

A committee, chaired by Mr W Frith, was established in order to organise the erection of a memorial to honour the war dead in 1919. They organised a public subscription in order to cover the cost of the works which amounted to £260. In February 1921 the Weston Rhyn War Memorial was unveiled and dedicated by Reverend D R Davies, who was a former chaplain to the armed forces. The memorial’s design was meant to create a place for the parishioners of Weston Rhyn to be able to go and sit and reflect whilst remembering the sacrifice that local men had made for their country.

As part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebration’s in 2002 the memorial enclosure which the war memorial is situated in was renovated and the war memorial was cleaned.

Details

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1921.

MATERIALS: Darley Dale Stone.

DESCRIPTION: Weston Rhyn War Memorial is situated outside of the Weston Rhyn village hall. It comprises a c 2m high Celtic-style wheel-head cross on a rectangular tapering shaft which is set upon an octagonal plinth.

The plinth carries bronze plaques which are inscribed with the 51 names of those who lost their lives during the First World War. One of the plaques is inscribed with men who belonged to the Royal Welch Fusiliers Regiment, whilst another honours those who belonged to the King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry.

The front-facing plaque includes the inscription: IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ AND WHOSE NAMES ARE/ HERE RECORDED./ YE THAT LIVE ON MID ENGLISH PASTURES GREEN/ REMEMBER US AND THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

Below this plaque is an additional plaque which was added to incorporate the names of those who died during the Second World War with the inscription: ALSO FOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945. This includes a total of 16 names listed below.

The plinth is set upon a circular stone base which incorporates four stone seats as part of the base of the memorial. It is surrounded by a circular dark grey stone decorative paved area.

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, 23 November 2017.

Sources

Websites
‘Unveiling ceremony’, Border Counties Advertiser, 16 February 1921, accessed 23 May 2016 from http://gotlottery.uk/west-midlands/shropshire/oswestry/2002
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/254670
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 August 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37955

Legal

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