Birlingham War Memorial
Village Green, Church Lane, Birlingham, Worcestershire, WR10 3AQ
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1440881
- Date first listed:
- 06-Dec-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Birlingham War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Village Green, Church Lane, Birlingham, Worcestershire, WR10 3AQ
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1440881
- Date first listed:
- 06-Dec-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Birlingham War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Village Green, Church Lane, Birlingham, Worcestershire, WR10 3AQ
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:
- Village Green, Church Lane, Birlingham, Worcestershire, WR10 3AQ
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Worcestershire
- District:
- Wychavon (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Birlingham
- National Grid Reference:
- SO9324843093
Summary
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
Reasons for Designation
Birlingham 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 ornate and striking Latin cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with the Church of St James and the churchyard entrance archway, both 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 Birlingham 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 commemorates nine local servicemen who fell during the First World War.
In 1948 a dedication was added to commemorate the two fallen of the Second World War.
In 2005 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
Details
Birlingham War Memorial stands on the village green outside the Church of St James. It comprises a Latin cross with a Celtic-style knotwork cross carved on its front face. The cross is set upon a square shaft which rises from a plinth on a two-stepped base.
The face of the shaft is inscribed in ornate incised lettering: LIVE THOU/ FOR/ ENGLAND/ THEY FOR/ ENGLAND/ DIED. The front face of the plinth is also inscribed and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES IN THE/ WAR 1914 – 1918.
On the step below this is 1939 – 45.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Trust, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=116
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/92146
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/32185
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 06-Jun-2026 at 16:58:20.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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