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Nantwich War Memorial

The Square, High Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DB

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial Calvary cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1451515
Date first listed:: 30-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Nantwich War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The Square, High Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DB

User submitted image — Uploaded by War Memorials Online This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1451515
Date first listed:: 30-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Nantwich War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The Square, High Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DB

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:: The Square, High Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DB

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

District:: Cheshire East (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Nantwich
National Grid Reference:: SJ6512152337

Summary

First World War memorial Calvary cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Nantwich War Memorial, which stands on the High Street, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* As an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* A tall and imposing Calvary cross with additional sculptural detail in the mouldings.

Group value:

* With the Church of St Mary (Grade I) and numerous adjacent Grade II-listed buildings.

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. 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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Nantwich as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 175 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant General Sir H De Beauvoir de Lisle KCB KCMG DSO on 25 September 1921. The memorial had cost of £925. After the Second World War, the names of 44 who had lost their lives in that conflict were added to the memorial. The memorial underwent restoration in 1969.

Details

The memorial is located on the High Street, at the western edge of the grounds of the Church of St Mary (Grade I), within a public area surrounded by a number of listed buildings. It takes the form of a stone Calvary cross which stands to approximately 4m in height. At the top a hood shelters the carved crucifixion. The cross head rises from the heavily moulded collar of an octagonal shaft: the collar incorporates sculptural features including the bust of the Virgin Mary.

The cross shaft stands on an octagonal plinth with a simple cornice. Each side of the plinth carries a polished granite plaque. The plaque on the front of the plinth bears the dedication TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN/ HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE/ MEN OF NANTWICH/ WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The remaining seven plaques list, in alphabetical order, the names of those killed in the First World War: four of these names are also carved into faces of the plinth's base.

The plinth is supported by a three-stepped octagonal base. Three grey granite tablets on the middle step commemorate those killed in the Second World War. Of these the dedicatory tablet reads 1939 – 1945. Either side of that are two larger tablets recording the names, 44 in total including three women. Two Second World War servicemen who died as a result of injuries in 1946 are also recorded on the third tablet.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 11 October 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/131162/
War Memorials Register, accessed 11 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2048

Legal

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