Short Heath War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, 1925.

Reasons for Designation

Short Heath War Memorial, which stands at the junction of Sand Beds Road, High Road and Haley 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 First World War;
* Architectural interest: a well-proportioned cross in the Celtic style;
* Design interest: enclosed by timber fences accessed by a gate and steps, with a contemporary curved pergola behind.

History

Short Heath War memorial was unveiled on 29 August 1925 in commemoration of 52 local servicemen who died during the First World War. In 2006-7 improvement works were conducted by Walsall Council: the paved area was extended and renewed and repairs made to the pergola to the rear of the memorial. A new granite stone commemorating the names of 36 men who died during the Second World War was added to the garden. In 2014, a First World War name was added to the western face of the memorial.

Details

DESCRIPTION: Short Heath War Memorial stands in the centre of a small garden at the junction of Sand Beds Road, High Road and Haley Street. The memorial comprises a rough-hewn granite Celtic cross with a tall shaft set on a tapering plinth. A reversed sword is carved in relief on the front face of the cross. The southern face of the plinth bears an inscription in black painted letters reading TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO THE MEMORY OF/ THE FOLLOWING MEN/ OF SHORT HEATH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ (17 NAMES). The eastern and western faces of the plinth bear inscriptions in black painted letters with additional names of the fallen. The plinth stands on a three-stepped rectangular base.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial is approached from the street by a timber gate on brick piers and a flight of four steps. The steps lead to the new (2007) raised pavement* that surrounds the memorial. The Second World War memorial plaque* stands behind the memorial cross. On the lawn to the rear of the garden is a curved pergola of brick piers and horizontal timbers. The garden is enclosed to the sides by half-height timber fences with hedges.

* Pursuant to S.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 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 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 23/02/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/17630
Wyrley Blog, Local History for Great Wyrley and Surrounding Areas, accessed 23/02/2016 from https://wyrleyblog.wordpress.com/articles-other/sapper-thomas-jones-a-place-to-call-home/
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/154538

Other
Willenhall LNP Environmental Action Plan [online document] www.wallsall.gov.uk accessed 23/02/2016

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Print the official list entry