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Latitude: 52.3105 / 52°18'37"N
Longitude: -1.3689 / 1°22'7"W
OS Eastings: 443123
OS Northings: 268231
OS Grid: SP431682
Mapcode National: GBR 7PW.2QM
Mapcode Global: VHCV2.7653
Plus Code: 9C4W8J6J+6C
Entry Name: Birdingbury War Memorial
Listing Date: 24 September 2015
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1429601
ID on this website: 101429601
Location: Birdingbury, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23
County: Warwickshire
District: Rugby
Civil Parish: Birdingbury
Built-Up Area: Birdingbury
Traditional County: Warwickshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Warwickshire
Church of England Parish: Birdingbury St Leonard
Church of England Diocese: Coventry
Tagged with: War memorial
A First World War memorial, by Thomas H Elliott, stonemason, dedicated in 1921; altered after the Second World War to add the names of the Fallen from that conflict.
A First World War memorial, by Thomas H Elliott, stonemason, dedicated in 1921; altered after the Second World War to add the names of the Fallen from that conflict.
MATERIALS: Upton Wood limestone on a concrete base.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial, which is circa 2.5m high, has a cross with four arms, projecting in four directions, on a diagonally-set four-sided tapering shaft, which stands on a three-stepped plinth. The plinth is inscribed on all four sides, the inscriptions picked out in inlaid bronze lettering. On three sides: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF / THOSE FROM THIS PARISH / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918, followed by the names of the Fallen; then FOR KING AND COUNTRY. The rear face is inscribed 1939 – 1945 followed by the names of those who died in the Second World War. The plinth stands on a wide, high square base, into which is set four elaborate cast-iron posts on stone bases, with a chain-link fence slung between them.
The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on 18 September 1921, to commemorate the members of the parish of Birdingbury who died during the First World War. The costs of £80 had been raised by subscription. The memorial was designed and made by Thomas Elliott, a monumental stonemason from Leamington Spa. A local newspaper, in a piece entitled Birdingbury War Memorial: Sunday’s Unveiling Ceremony, reported:
“The Cross is of Upton Wood stone, and of a unique design, patented by Mr. Thomas Elliott… It stands about 15 feet high, on a massive base, the foundation being of concrete, prepared by voluntary labour. Subscriptions amounting to £80 were raised by the parishioners to defray the cost… We understand that this is the only four-sided cross in England, and standing as it does at a cross-roads, the effect is good”.
Further names were added to the memorial following the end of the Second World War to commemorate those who had fallen. The structure was cleaned and repaired in 2014 with the help of a grant from War Memorials Trust.
Birdingbury 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: a robust memorial with a cross of unusual four-sided design.
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