Summary

First World War memorial, 1924.

Description

The memorial stands on a lawn in front of the Ebenezer Church, High Street. It comprises a rough-hewn granite Celtic cross with a tall shaft set on a tapering plinth. That rises from a rectangular rough-hewn granite base, which stands on a rectangular concrete slab.

The front (west) face of the plinth bears an inscription in black painted letters reading THE/ GLORIOUS/ DEAD/ 1914 – 1918. Below on the base is an inscription in black painted letters reading THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

History

Langley War Memorial was unveiled in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church (c 250m to the North of its present location) and was dedicated by the Archdeacon of Birmingham in November 1924. The memorial does not record names of the fallen; the 64 local servicemen who died during the First World War are recorded in the memorial window originally installed at St Michael and All Angels church and dedicated in 1921. In the 1960s Holy Trinity was closed and demolished. The memorial was removed and placed to the left of the entrance of St Michael and All Angels Church, Langley Green, some 400m to the South of its present location.

In 2007, St Michael and All Angels Church was closed and sold. A public appeal for the protection of the memorial (as well as the memorial window) was led by Langley Local History Society. This was supported by both individuals and also local organisations. The stone masons W H Tinsley of Rood End, Oldbury, cleaned, re-lettered and moved the memorial to the lawn in front of the Ebenezer Church on Langley High Street. A service of re-dedication was held on 8 November 2014.

Reasons for Listing

Langley War Memorial, which stands on Langley High Street, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War;
* Architectural interest: the simple Celtic cross is an eloquent reminder of all the First World War fallen.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678037

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

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)