Aldridge War Memorial

The Green, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH

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Overview

War memorial with a stone Celtic cross, erected in 1919. It was moved to its current position in 1956, at which time the surrounding flower garden was constructed. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1422545
Date first listed:: 08-Dec-2014
List Entry Name:: Aldridge War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The Green, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1422545
Date first listed:: 08-Dec-2014
List Entry Name:: Aldridge War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The Green, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH

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:: The Green, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8NH

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

District:: Walsall (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SK0596900716

Summary

War memorial with a stone Celtic cross, erected in 1919. It was moved to its current position in 1956, at which time the surrounding flower garden was constructed.

Reasons for Designation

The war memorial in Aldridge, moved to its current location in 1956, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a simple yet refined Celtic cross design, well-crafted in stone, and set within later but sympathetically-arranged gardens; * Intactness: the structure is unaltered since it was relocated to this site in the 1950s; * Group value: it makes a positive and important contribution to the street scene and groups well with the neighbouring listed buildings.

History

The war memorial was dedicated by the Bishop of Stafford in 1919. It was moved from its original position in St Mary’s churchyard in 1956. It is not marked on the Ordnance Survey Map of 1938, but is shown on the Map of 1967 in its current setting enclosed by a small garden. The lettering was restored and the cross cleaned in 1979.

Details

A war memorial of 1919, moved to its current position in 1956, at which time the surrounding flower garden was constructed.

MATERIALS: constructed of stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is a freestanding Celtic Cross is a raised garden, surrounded on three sides by stone flower beds of five-courses plus coping stones. Square planters are built into the four corners of the walls. There are two steps to a central opening in the north-west wall. At the south-east entrance are two steel handrails* set in the ground spanning two shallow steps up to the memorial. The paved area* around the cross extends beyond the flower bed walls to form a rectangular area and incorporates a grass cross to the south east, edged in engineering brick.

The memorial is square on plan with a rubble plinth and an ashlar base and cross shaft. The base is in two sections: the lower block having a slightly curved top connecting with a narrower, taller upper block with carved mouldings including a central pediment design, and forming an informal entablature below the plain cross shaft. The north-west face of the cross has carved knot emblems extending from a central hemisphere.

The main (north-west) face of the shaft bears the inscription: TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN THE MEMORY OF THE/ ALDRIDGE MEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ HONOUR AND FREEDOM/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ "BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH/ AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE". The rear (south-east) of the shaft is inscribed thus: AND/ IN MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE/ SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945. The front and left faces of the plinth are inscribed with the names of the men lost in the First World War. The rear and right faces with those who died in the Second World War. Inscriptions are in lead.

Two stone flower pots are set next to the memorial. On the outside of the north-east wall is a freestanding stone with a bronze plaque inscribed: IN MEMORY OF/CAPT. CHARLES GEORGE BONNER (“GUS”)/V.C. D.S.C. R.N.R./1884-1951/AN ALDRIDGE MAN AWARDED/THE VICTORIA CROSS/FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY IN ACTION/WITH AN ENEMY SUBMARINE/ON BOARD HMS DUNRAVEN/8TH AUGUST 1917.

* Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 17 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/178453
War Memorials Register, accessed 17 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/17621
Other
'Aldridge Memorial', Walsall Observer, 12 July 1919
'Dedication of Aldridge War Memorial', Walsall Observer, 2 August 1919
'Re-dedicated: big attendance at Aldridge ceremony', Walsall Observer, 26 June 1956
'War memorial to be refurbished', Walsall Observer, 6 January 1956

Legal

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

The listed building(s) is/are shown coloured blue on the attached map. Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’), structures attached to or within the curtilage of the listed building (save those coloured blue on the map) are not to be treated as part of the listed building for the purposes of the Act.