Churchill War Memorial

Southwest of Churchill Lane, Iverley Lane, Rocky Lane and Stakenbridge Lane crossroads, DY10 3LU

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Overview

A First World War memorial, erected 1920, with later Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1453469
Date first listed:: 02-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Churchill War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Southwest of Churchill Lane, Iverley Lane, Rocky Lane and Stakenbridge Lane crossroads, DY10 3LU

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1453469
Date first listed:: 02-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Churchill War Memorial
Location Description:
Statutory Address 1:: Southwest of Churchill Lane, Iverley Lane, Rocky Lane and Stakenbridge Lane crossroads, DY10 3LU

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:: Southwest of Churchill Lane, Iverley Lane, Rocky Lane and Stakenbridge Lane crossroads, DY10 3LU

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

County:: Worcestershire
District:: Wyre Forest (District Authority)
Parish:: Churchill and Blakedown
National Grid Reference:: SO8830379721

Summary

A First World War memorial, erected 1920, with later Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Churchill war memorial of 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20; * for the commemoration of all of the parishioners who served in the First World War, including two Quaker sisters.

Architectural interest: * a simple yet poignant stone 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 England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of 750,000 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 Churchill, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

After the end of the First World War a memorial window had been erected in the parish church of St James the Less in memory of the fallen, paid for by local subscription. This also funded the Churchill war memorial on the village green. The war memorial commemorates all those from the parish who served in the First World War, including two sisters who were members of the Quaker Ambulance Service and returned from active service to Worcestershire in 1918. The roll of honour records 45 names, seven of which were not to return.

The memorial was created by Haughton Bros, carved from red Hollington sandstone. It was unveiled at a special public ceremony on 3rd April 1920 (‘Easter Eve’) by General Sir Neville Lyttelton. Lyttelton was born in nearby Hagley, himself a veteran of several conflicts including the Boer War; he was awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1911. He described the memorial as a ‘monument pure and simple of the War’.

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the two local men who fell in that conflict.

Details

A First World War memorial, erected 1920, with later Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: Red Hollington sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: this memorial stands on the south west corner of the crossroads of the Blakedown to Broome and Cookley to Hagley roads, north east of the village of Churchill.

The memorial takes the form of octagonal tapering shaft above a square foot, with a Latin cross at the head with a carved ‘IHS’ central shield. The cross stands on a square plinth with chamfered lower corners, on a platform and moulded base.

INSCRIPTION: The principal face (east) of the plinth is inscribed in memory of those from the parish who lost their lives in the First World War: THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919/ R.I.P., with seven names below. The north face is inscribed: ROLL OF HONOUR, with a list of 38 other parishioners (including two women) who served and returned inscribed on the north, west and south faces. The names of the two men who lost their lives in the Second World War were added later, and are inscribed under the inscription: THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945 on the platform.

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Brooks, A, The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, (2007), 224
Websites
Imperial War Museums Register, accessed 21 December 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/32332
Library of the Religious Society of Friends - Quaker Ambulance Service, accessed 21 December 2017 from http://fau.quaker.org.uk/
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 December 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/172391/
Wyre Forest District Council - Churchill Conservation Area Appraisal (2014), accessed 17 January 2018 from http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/media/820946/20150116-Churchill-CACAppraisal-Web-version.pdf
Other
Newspaper account of unveiling of memorial April 1920 (no source available)

Legal

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