Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Nuneaton War Memorial, which stands in Riversley Park, 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 sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a substantial and imposing memorial cross.
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 the country. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Nuneaton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the town and district who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The pink granite memorial stands in the northern part of Riversley Park, aligned with Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery (not listed) and the Boer War memorial. It takes the form of a tall Celtic cross with five hemispherical bosses on the cross head. The staged foot of the cross shaft rises from a large tapering plinth, square on plan. The plinth’s battered foot stands on three low steps of a different stone. The bottom step carries a low ornamental rail of twisted iron, painted black.
End of official list entry
