Wootton War Memorial
Church Road, Wootton, Bedford, MK43 9HD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1441878
- Date first listed:
- 27-Feb-2017
- List Entry Name:
- Wootton War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Church Road, Wootton, Bedford, MK43 9HD
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1441878
- Date first listed:
- 27-Feb-2017
- List Entry Name:
- Wootton War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Church Road, Wootton, Bedford, MK43 9HD
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:
- Church Road, Wootton, Bedford, MK43 9HD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Bedford (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Wootton
- National Grid Reference:
- TL0050445043
Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled in 1922, with further names added after the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Wootton 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant and striking Latin 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 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 Wootton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 43 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial was originally located at the junction of Church Road and Cranfield Road but was relocated in the late 1970s. It was unveiled in 1922.
Following the Second World War, the names of seven who lost their lives in that conflict were also added.
Details
The memorial is located on a green off Church Road in Wootton and it comprises a stone Latin cross surmounting a rectangular tapered shaft set on a rectangular plinth. This is set upon a three-stepped base. Two decorated brackets support the arms of the cross and the dates 1914 1919 are carved in relief on the arms of the cross.
Stone plaques have been fixed to the memorial; the one on the front face of the plinth bears the inscription ERECTED/ TO THE MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THE/ PARISH OF WOOTTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR. The other faces carry plaques inscribed with the names of the fallen.
The base of the shaft carries a plaque which is inscribed 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).
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, 6 March 2017.
Sources
Websites
Roll of Honour, accessed 9 Nov 2016 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Bedfordshire/WoottonRollofHonour.html
War Memorials Register, accessed 9 Nov 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1841
War Memorials Online, accessed 6 March 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/228866
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 09-Jun-2026 at 22:50:04.
Download a full scale map (PDF)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.