West Kirby War Memorial
Churchyard of St Bridget's Church, Church Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 7HL
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1436603
- Date first listed:
- 05-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- West Kirby War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of St Bridget's Church, Church Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 7HL
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1436603
- Date first listed:
- 05-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- West Kirby War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Churchyard of St Bridget's Church, Church Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 7HL
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of St Bridget's Church, Church Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 7HL
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Wirral (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SJ2183986395
Summary
First World War memorial, 1923.
Reasons for Designation
West Kirby 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: an elegant granite wheel-head cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with St Bridget’s Church (Grade II).
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 West Kirby as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
It was dedicated in 1923 by Rev Charles Broke Gwynne and the names of those who died are recorded on a tablet in the church.
In 2015 works were undertaken to improve the legibility of the inscription with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
Details
MATERIALS: Granite.
DESCRIPTION: West Kirby war memorial is located within the churchyard of St Bridget’s Church. It comprises a wheel-head cross surmounting a shaft which are adorned with a Sword of Sacrifice carved in relief. At the base of the shaft is a small knot-work cross in relief. The cross rises from a square slightly tapered plinth set upon a two-stepped hexagonal base.
The inscription on the plinth commemorates the men of the parish who died in the First World War and reads: PRO DEO PRO PATRIA / TO REMEMBER / THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO / AT THE CALL OF DUTY LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1919 / “THESE IN THE GLORIOUS MORNING / OF THEIR DAYS, / FOR ENGLAND'S SAKE, LOST ALL BUT / ENGLAND'S PRAISE” / “LORD, ALL PITYING, JESU BLEST / GRANT THEM THINE ETERNAL REST” / THE NAMES ARE RECORDED / ON A TABLET IN THE CHURCH. The lettering is raised lead lettering painted black.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Trust, accessed 6 June 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1255
War Memorials Online, accessed 6 June 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/192096
War Memorials Register, accessed 6 June 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1274
Other
Myers, A R, The Story of the Churches of West Kirby Parish (1995)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 04:04:12.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry