Hopwas War Memorial

Hopwas War Memorial, Church of St Chad, Church Drive, Hopwas, Staffordshire, B78 3AL

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Overview

A First World War memorial, made by Mitchell and Sons, Tamworth, unveiled on 12 October 1919; altered by the addition of names from the Second World War in about 1947. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458926
Date first listed:: 06-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: Hopwas War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Hopwas War Memorial, Church of St Chad, Church Drive, Hopwas, Staffordshire, B78 3AL

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458926
Date first listed:: 06-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: Hopwas War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Hopwas War Memorial, Church of St Chad, Church Drive, Hopwas, Staffordshire, B78 3AL

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:: Hopwas War Memorial, Church of St Chad, Church Drive, Hopwas, Staffordshire, B78 3AL

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

County:: Staffordshire
District:: Lichfield (District Authority)
Parish:: Wigginton and Hopwas
National Grid Reference:: SK1758305096

Summary

A First World War memorial, made by Mitchell and Sons, Tamworth, unveiled on 12 October 1919; altered by the addition of names from the Second World War in about 1947.

Reasons for Designation

The war memorial at the Church of St Chad in Hopwas 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 church’s community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* for its design, a well-executed granite memorial with elaborate carved detailing.

Group value:

* with the Grade II-listed Church of St Chad, in whose churchyard it stands.

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 the Church of St Chad in Hopwas, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the men of Hopwas, Coton and Alders, who lost their lives in the First World War.

The cost of the war memorial, which was made by Mitchell and Sons of Tamworth, was raised by subscription, and it was unveiled in a ceremony by Rev W Macgregor on Sunday 12 October 1919.

Details

A First World War memorial, made by Mitchell and Sons, Tamworth, unveiled on 12 October 1919; altered by the addition of names from the Second World War in about 1947.

MATERIALS: Peterhead granite.

DESCRIPTION: A Celtic cross with a tapering shaft, 12 feet (about 4m) high, with a shallow foot set on a tapering plinth, the whole on a three-stepped base. The head of the cross is carved with interlacing. The tapered sides of the plinth have carved laurel wreaths on consoles. The inscriptions are incised, and picked out in black lettering. The shaft is inscribed in an elaborate Gothic font THEIR / NAME / LIVETH FOR / EVERMORE. [sic]. The foot is inscribed TO THE GLORY OF GOD. The plinth is inscribed with the names and ranks of the 22 dead, and the months in which they lost their lives, below the inscription AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF HOPWAS / COTON AND ALDERS, WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN / THE GREAT WAR FOR HONOUR AND FREEDOM. The first step of the base carries the names of the six men who fell in the Second World War, under the inscription ALSO IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN WORLD WAR / 1939-1945.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register: Hopwas Village Memorial, accessed 25 July 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/13575
War Memorials Online Database, Hopwas Village Memorial WMO110227, accessed 25 July 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/110227/
Other
Hopwas War Memorials: Dedication and Unveiling - Tamworth Herald, Saturday 18 October 1919, p. 5
Staffordshire Historic Environment Record 55579: Hopwas, Coton and Alders War Memorial, Church of St Chad, Hopwas

Legal

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