Harbury War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Harbury War Memorial, which stands on Crown Street, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a plain yet imposing wheel-head cross memorial;
* Group value: with the Grade II-listed Church of All Saints and a number of surrounding buildings listed at Grade II, including Church House and The Crown Inn.

History

Harbury War Memorial was originally located in the road at the junction of Crown Street and Dovehouse Lane, Harbury, and surrounded by low railings. The mason was C Pullin of Leamington Spa, who also created the nearby war memorial at Ufton. The memorial, which was paid for by public subscription, was unveiled in September 1920 by Captain G Osborne at a dedicatory service conducted by the Reverend JE Beardsworth. At the unveiling the guardianship passed from the war memorial committee to Harbury Parish Council. The names of those who fell in the Second World War were added to the memorial after 1946 and were paid for by public subscription. In the late 1960s the memorial was moved a short distance to its present location.

Details

The memorial stands on a grass verge adjacent to the churchyard wall in Crown Street. It comprises a granite wheel-head cross set on a square, tapered, plinth. That stands on a base of three rectangular steps, the upper two of which are granite. The whole stands on a rectangular concrete slab. The memorial is approximately 3m in height.

The eastern face of the plinth bears a bronze plaque with the inscription SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO MADE/ THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1919./ (33 NAMES). On the northern face of the plinth a bronze plaque bears the inscription IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE/ SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945/ (10 NAMES). The eastern riser of the top step carries an inscription of painted metal letters that reads “MAKE THEM TO BE NUMBERED WITH THY/ SAINTS IN GLORY EVERLASTING.” The northern riser of the top step carries an inscription of painted metal letters reading THEY ARE NOT DEAD BUT SLEEPING, AND/ THEIR NOBLE DEEDS WILL LIVE FOREVER.

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, 17 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 03/10/2015 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19284
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/208523

Other
"Harbury", Royal Leamington Spa Courier and Warwickshire Standard, 10 September 1920, p8

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