Description

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 06/11/2019

153/0/10023

CREWE
MUNICIPAL SQUARE
Crewe War Memorial

(Formerly listed as: MARKET SQUARE, CREWE WAR MEMORIAL)

16-FEB-05

II
First World War Memorial, 1924, by Walter Henry Gilbert of Birmingham, bronze statue by H H Martyn & Co. Limestone ashlar base and pedestal surmounted by bronze statue of Britannia. World War II, Falklands and Gulf War plaques added later.

Shallow square plinth with ashlar facings. Large square base (erected 2006), sides set with large bronze plaques (20 World War I, 7 World War II, 1 late C20) inscribed with names of fallen. Tapered ashlar limestone pedestal above with rusticated band to lower part, surmounted by bronze statue of Britannia standing on chains and holding trident and palm leaf. Inscription to front of pedestal reads 'THIS STATUE WAS/PLACED TO COMMEMORATE/THE MEN OF CREWE/WHO SEEKING THE/WELFARE OF THEIR/COUNTRY GAVE THEIR/LIVES IN SO DOING/AND ARE NOW RESTING/IN AND BEYOND/THE SEAS'.

Inscription to reverse of base reads 'LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS/1914 - 1918'. Inscription to paving enclosing memorial reads 'WHEN YOU GO HOME TELL THEM OF US AND SAY FOR YOUR TOMORROW WE GAVE OUR TODAY' (Kohima Epitaph). Inscription to paving in front of memorial reads 'THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD. AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN. AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING. WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM' (Laurence Binyon 1914).

HISTORY: the War Memorial was unveiled on the 14th June 1924 by General Sir Ian Hamilton and was originally sited in Market Square. Plaques recording the names of those killed during World War II were added later, and most recently those killed during the Falkland and Gulf Wars and in 'Other Theatres'. The memorial was moved to its present location in Municipal Square in 2006. The Roll of Honour bronze plaques were originally set into a raised pavement but were relocated on to the sides of the memorial's base in 2006.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION:
The Crewe War Memorial is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* War memorials are generally considered to be listable on the grounds of their strong cultural and historical significance within both a local and national context
* The World War I memorial acts as a poignant reminder of the effects of the tragic world events of warfare on this local community.
* Unusually, the memorial also records the names of civilians killed during World War II and the names of those killed during the Falkland and Gulf Wars
* It is a well designed monument incorporating a striking bronze figure of Britannia that forms a significant and prominent presence within Municipal Square
* It employs the use of high quality materials and craftsmanship

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 26 January 2017.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Crewe War Memorial at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q15978962

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

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)