Bloxwich War Memorial
Bloxwich War Memorial, Junction of High Street and Elmore Green Road, approx 41m south of All Saints Church, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3JZ
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1489371
- Date first listed:
- 04-Jun-2024
- List Entry Name:
- Bloxwich War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Bloxwich War Memorial, Junction of High Street and Elmore Green Road, approx 41m south of All Saints Church, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3JZ
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1489371
- Date first listed:
- 04-Jun-2024
- List Entry Name:
- Bloxwich War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Bloxwich War Memorial, Junction of High Street and Elmore Green Road, approx 41m south of All Saints Church, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3JZ
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Bloxwich War Memorial, Junction of High Street and Elmore Green Road, approx 41m south of All Saints Church, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3JZ
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Walsall (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SJ9978601868
Summary
A First World War memorial, built after 1919; altered after the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Bloxwich 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 fine example of a well-carved cross of sacrifice, with relief carved decoration.
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 also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore, the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Bloxwich as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 316 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The design of the memorial was modelled on the Cross of Sacrifice erected on the British cemeteries in France and Flanders, from the design of Sir Reginald Blomfield. Blomfield was the Chief Architect to the War Graves Commission. The memorial was crafted by Messrs A Wootton and Sons of Bloxwich.
The memorial, also known as the Cross of Sacrifice, was unveiled in November 1922 by Colonel R S Williamson, former commanding officer of the 5th South Staffords, and was then dedicated by the Bishop of Stafford.
An additional inscription to honour those parishioners who fell during the Second World War was subsequently added to the memorial.
Details
A First World War memorial, built after 1919; altered after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: the memorial is constructed of Portland stone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in a prominent roadside location to the southeast of All Saints Church (Grade II).
The memorial is an elongated stone cross, with octagonal shaft and cross arms. Affixed to the front of the cross, is a bronze longsword, blade down. The memorial stands on an octagonal two-stepped plinth on a three stepped base.
The main inscription, in leaded lettering on the front three sides of the plinth reads: (centre) ERECTED BY / THE INHABITANTS OF BLOXWICH BLAKENALL / AND LEAMORE /TO THE / GLORIOUS MEMORY OF 316 MEN / WHO AT THE CALL OF / KING AND COUNTRY / GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 / THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE / IN FREEDOM.
(left) THEIR NAMES ARE INSCRIBED / ON SCROLL WHICH MAY BE SEEN / IN THE PARISH CHURCH/ AND IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
(right) LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER / SEE TO IT THAT THEIR SACRIFICE / WAS NOT IN VAIN.
To the rear of the memorial, the additional inscription reads: (rear) THIS MEMORIAL WAS DESIGNED / BY / SIR REGINALD BLOMFIELD R S / AND UNVEILED BY / COLONEL R.S.WILLIAMSON VD / November 5th 1922.
On the front three sides of the lower plinth, is the additional carved inscription: THIS MEMORIAL IS ALSO DEDICATED TO THE MEN &WOMEN/ OF THE PARISH OF BLAKENHALL AND LEAMORE WHO SERVED AND/ DIED IN THE WAR/ 1939-1945.
Sources
Books and journals
Foster, A, Pevsner, N, Wedgwood, A, The Buildings of England: Birmingham and the Black Country, (2022), 646
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 16/01/2024 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/106321
Imperial War Memorials Register, accessed 16/01/2024 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/17623
Other
The Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Council, 11th November 1922, p. 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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 27-Jun-2026 at 09:45:18.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.