Brereton War Memorial

On the corner of Main Road (A460) and Coalpit Lane, Brereton, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, WS15 1DY

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

Overview

A First World War memorial unveiled in 1922, with additions made after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1479398
Date first listed:: 24-Feb-2022
List Entry Name:: Brereton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: On the corner of Main Road (A460) and Coalpit Lane, Brereton, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, WS15 1DY

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1479398
Date first listed:: 24-Feb-2022
List Entry Name:: Brereton War Memorial
Location Description:
Statutory Address 1:: On the corner of Main Road (A460) and Coalpit Lane, Brereton, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, WS15 1DY

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:: On the corner of Main Road (A460) and Coalpit Lane, Brereton, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, WS15 1DY

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

County:: Staffordshire
District:: Cannock Chase (District Authority)
Parish:: Brereton and Ravenhill
National Grid Reference:: SK0545916192

Summary

A First World War memorial unveiled in 1922, with additions made after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Brereton 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 local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as a well-executed stone cross featuring the Sword of Sacrifice.

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. Therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

Brereton War Memorial was raised as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on the 12 November 1922 by Colonel W A Wetherall CBE of Rugeley and dedicated by Rev G Lampard and Rev R Fuller, Vicar of Brereton. The names of a further ten parishioners were added to the memorial after the Second World War.

Details

A First World War memorial unveiled in 1922, with additions made after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: the memorial is constructed of rough-hewn Cornish Granite, and is inset with leaded lettering.

PLAN: the memorial is composed of a square-sided column standing on a square, tiered plinth and base.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is situated on the west side of Main Road, north of the junction with Coalpit Lane. It stands above road level within an enclosed, square garden retained on the south and east side with stone walls and wrought iron railings. The garden is accessed by a set of concrete steps to its south side.

The memorial takes the form of a freestanding cross, approximately 4m high, with truncated arms and a tapering shaft. The east face of the cross bears the Sword of Sacrifice carved in relief. Inscriptions are inset into the east face of the plinth. The top tier reads: ‘IN HONOUR OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FOUGHT AND IN EVER GRATEFUL/ REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE/ WHO FELL FOR GOD AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914-1918.’ The names of nineteen men are inset on the tier below. The lower tier features the words ‘SEE YE TO IT THAT THESE SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN’. At the foot of the memorial is a rectangular plaque in rough-hewn stone with a square panel inscribed with the dates 1939-1945 above the names of ten men.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 8 March 2022 to update text and reformat to current standards

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, ref. 13286, accessed 2 December 2021 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/13286?fbclid=IwAR3xLgRyEkGMtxM8G8Ru78Kt5lsnpqiZBDWCrF4Yu6PAMhXkzqpxT1kxFrQ#
War Memorials Online, ref. WMO/110505, accessed 2 December 2021 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/110505

Legal

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