Wombourne War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St Benedict Biscop, Church Road, Wombourne, Staffordshire, WV5 9EZ

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Overview

First World War memorial unveiled on 25 April 1920 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:: 1438106
Date first listed:: 15-Sep-2016
List Entry Name:: Wombourne War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Benedict Biscop, Church Road, Wombourne, Staffordshire, WV5 9EZ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438106
Date first listed:: 15-Sep-2016
List Entry Name:: Wombourne War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St Benedict Biscop, Church Road, Wombourne, Staffordshire, WV5 9EZ

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:: Churchyard of the Church of St Benedict Biscop, Church Road, Wombourne, Staffordshire, WV5 9EZ

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

County:: Staffordshire
District:: South Staffordshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Wombourne
National Grid Reference:: SO8768493151

Summary

First World War memorial unveiled on 25 April 1920 with further names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Wombourne War Memorial, unveiled on 25 April 1920, 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 obelisk with carved decorative details; * Group value: with the Church of St Benedict Biscop (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 Wombourne as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The war memorial was unveiled on 25 April 1920.

Following the Second World War, the names of those who lost their lives in that war were also added.

Details

MATERIALS: granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises an obelisk, the front face of which is decorated with a Union Jack flag, carved in relief, which wraps around to another side of the obelisk. The lower half of the front face bears a wreath carved in relief and a collar at the base.

The obelisk stands on a two-staged plinth. The upper is tapered and bears the following inscription in black-painted letters on the front face: TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF WOMBOURN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919. The lower stage bears the inscription: 1939 – 1945. Names of the fallen are incised on the east and west sides of the plinth, 39 for the First World War and 16 for the Second World War.

The plinth is set upon a three-stepped base.

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, 19 January 2017.

Sources

Books and journals
Griffiths, M, Wombourne What Was, (1990)
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 19 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/172691
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 July 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/13556
Wolverhampton war memorials, accessed 21 July 2016 from http://www.wolverhamptonwarmemorials.org.uk/memorial_pages/Town/wombourne.htm

Legal

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