Summary
A First World War memorial, designed by HC Corlette (1869-1958), unveiled on 1 September 1920; altered by the addition of names from the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Areley Kings 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 the church’s community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* for its design, a well-executed sandstone memorial with elaborate carved detailing.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Bartholomew, Church House and The Old Rectory.
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 Areley Kings, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the men of the community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The war memorial, which was designed by architect Major Hubert Christian Corlette, OBE (1869 – 1958), was unveiled in a ceremony by Bishop Philip Fyson on 1 September 1920. Further names were added after the Second World War to commemorate those lost in that conflict.
In 1961 the war memorial was moved to its present position from its original location nearby, at the junction of Dunley Road and Areley Lane, as part of a road widening scheme.
Details
A First World War memorial, designed by HC Corlette (1869-1958), unveiled on 1 September 1920; altered by the addition of names from the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Sandstone.
DESCRIPTION: The memorial takes the form of a Latin cross with splayed ends to the arms, and is about 1.3m high overall. The cross stands atop an octagonal column with scrolling chamfers to the top. The column stands on a large, square plinth, all on a two-stepped platform with slightly sloping steps. The plinth carries the inscriptions and names of the 13 men who lost their lives in the First World War, and the five men lost in the Second World War. The inscription on the plinth, of carved lettering in a Serif font, reads A PILLAR OF REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE MEN OF/ ARELEY KINGS/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918// (NAMES)// FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ "WHO DIES IF ENGLAND LIVES"// (NAMES).
The upper step of the two-stepped platform reads 1939-1945/ (NAMES).
