Summary

First World War Memorial, dedicated in 1921, with Second World War additions.

Description

MATERIALS: the whole structure is of sandstone construction.

PLAN: it is square on plan.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial, which faces east, takes the form of a life-size statue of a soldier in First World War uniform standing 'at ease' with a rifle at his right-hand side and supported on a rock at the rear. It stands upon the moulded cap stone of a tall, tapered pedestal which in turn stands upon a square plinth. Below this is a single-stepped base. The pedestal has a foliated frieze and raised inscription panels on all fours sides. The inscription of the east face (front) reads: 'IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF THIS PARISH / WHO FELL / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 / [Names] / THEIR NAME LIVETH EVERMORE'. The panel on the north face is inscribed: 'IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF THIS PARISH / WHO FELL / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1939-1945 / [Names].' The panels on the west and south faces are blank.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial stands within an octagonal-shaped enclosure formed of sandstone curbing surmounted by late-C20 steel railings.

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, 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. One such memorial was erected in 1921 at Madeley, at the junction of Keele Road and Newcastle Road, to commemorate the 44 men of the parish who died during this conflict. Following the Second World War a second dedicatory inscription was added to commemorate the 17 men of the parish who died during the course of this conflict.

Reasons for Listing

Madeley Heath war memorial, dedicated in 1921, with Second World War additions, is listed in Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: it is a poignant reminder of the impact of tragic world events upon an individual community and, thus, has strong cultural and historical significance within both a local and national context;

* Architectural interest: as a well-executed memorial with an expressive and finely-detailed sculpture of a First World War soldier.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26676523

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

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  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
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  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
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  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014