Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 11 April 1920, with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: Edgmond War Memorial is sited within a small walled alcove on the High Street. The memorial comprises a lantern cross which shelters a pedimented image of Jesus on the Crucifix. This religious iconography is accompanied by the image of a nurse on the left and a soldier on the right of the figure of Christ. Both the nurse and soldier are gazing up at the figure of Christ. Above the figures is an image of a shield.

Beneath the lantern cross there are two tapered rectangular cornices featuring inscriptions. The inscription on the top cornice reads LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR/ AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. Beneath this, is the second larger cornice and its inscription reads IN MEMORY OF THOSE FROM EDGMOND/ WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 1919/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

The lantern cross surmounts a tapering hexagonal shaft which bears an indented plaque. Within the plaque is a carved cross beneath which is an incised list of the names and ranks of the men who fell from Edgmond during the First World War; unusually, at the end of the listed names of the men, a woman’s name is also featured.

The shaft is set upon a four-stepped octagonal base; on the top step, an inscription reads SONS OF THIS PLACE LET THIS OF YOU BE SAID/ THAT YOU WHO LIVE ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DEAD/ THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP/ A RICHER HARVEST ERE YOU FALL ASLEEP. On the second octagonal step, the inscription from the Second World War reads 1939 1945 and lists the names of the fallen from that conflict.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 19 January 2017.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Edgmond as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 29 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The war memorial was funded by public subscription and unveiled and dedicated on 11 April 1920 at a ceremony attended by Brig Gen A H O Lloyd and the Archdeacon of Salop.

A further four names were added following the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Edgmond 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: an elegant and striking memorial with poignant carved figurative sculpture;
* Group value: with the Manor House (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478038

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)