Astley War Memorial

Astley War Memorial, Junction of B4196 and School Lane, Astley, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, DY13 0RQ

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Overview

First World War memorial cross, 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:: 1461628
Date first listed:: 13-Mar-2019
List Entry Name:: Astley War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Astley War Memorial, Junction of B4196 and School Lane, Astley, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, DY13 0RQ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1461628
Date first listed:: 13-Mar-2019
List Entry Name:: Astley War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Astley War Memorial, Junction of B4196 and School Lane, Astley, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, DY13 0RQ

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:: Astley War Memorial, Junction of B4196 and School Lane, Astley, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, DY13 0RQ

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

County:: Worcestershire
District:: Malvern Hills (District Authority)
Parish:: Astley and Dunley
National Grid Reference:: SO8012468564

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Astley War Memorial, 1921, 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 sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* a well-designed monument of good-quality construction, and it survives well.

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 the official policy of not repatriating the dead. Memorials, therefore, provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Astley as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community in the First World War. It was unveiled and dedicated on Saturday 9 April 1921 in a ceremony attended by the Bishop of Worcester.

As was common for war memorials, the names of those parishioners who fell in the Second World War were subsequently inscribed.

Details

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

MATERIALS: Hollington stone with bronze plaques.

PLAN: it stands on a square base on a triangle of grass at the junction of the B4196 and School Lane.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a Latin cross on a tapering square shaft, mounted on a square plinth with a three-stepped based. The face of the cross bears a relief-moulded Sword of Sacrifice. On each side of the square plinth is a bronze plaque.

The main inscription, on the east side of the plinth, reads: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN GRATEFUL / REMEMBRANCE OF / THE MEN OF ASTLEY / WHO LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES FOR US / IN THE GREAT WAR’. The north and south faces name the 11 fallen soldiers, and on the west is a dedication to the five men lost in the Second World War.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museums, War Memorials Register: Astley, accessed 21/11/2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37851
War Memorials Online, Astley, accessed 21/11/2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/228197/
Other
'Astley War Memorial Dedication by Bishop of Worcester', Kidderminster Shuttle, 16 April 1921, 8
'Astley War Memorial Unveiled by the Bishop', Berrows Worcester Journal, 16 April 1921,7

Legal

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