Summary

First World War memorial unveiled on 25 April 1920 with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises an obelisk, the front face of which is decorated with a Union Jack flag, carved in relief, which wraps around to another side of the obelisk. The lower half of the front face bears a wreath carved in relief and a collar at the base.

The obelisk stands on a two-staged plinth. The upper is tapered and bears the following inscription in black-painted letters on the front face: TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF WOMBOURN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919. The lower stage bears the inscription: 1939 – 1945. Names of the fallen are incised on the east and west sides of the plinth, 39 for the First World War and 16 for the Second World War.

The plinth is set upon a three-stepped base.

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 Wombourne as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The war memorial was unveiled on 25 April 1920.

Following the Second World War, the names of those who lost their lives in that war were also added.

Reasons for Listing

Wombourne War Memorial, unveiled on 25 April 1920, 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant granite obelisk with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with the Church of St Benedict Biscop (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66477940

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

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  For the Record