Summary

War memorial, circa 1954.

Description

War memorial, circa 1954.

MATERIALS: constructed of limestone.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial comprises a concave wall of coursed limestone ashlar with moulded coping stones. It is approached by a semi-circular, three-stepped base. The top of the wall is inscribed with a quotation from William Shakespeare’s play Henry V, and the extract from Act IV, Scene iii, often referred to as the St Crispin’s Day speech, reads:

FROM THIS DAY TO THE ENDING OF THE WORLD, BUT WE IN IT SHALT BE / REMEMBERED: WE FEW, WE HAPPY FEW, WE BAND OF BROTHERS

Beneath are a row of five bronze plaques set in chamfered niches. The central plaque is inscribed:

IN / GRATEFUL MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF / STRATFORD / UPON / AVON / WHO LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES FOR / THEIR COUNTRY / IN THE 1939-1945 / WAR

The names of the 100 men who died in the conflict are listed on the other four plaques. The central stone shelf below is for displaying wreaths, and to either side is an additional bronze plaque. That to the left is inscribed ALSO THOSE KILLED ON / ACTIVE SERVICE OR SERVICE OF / A WAR LIKE NATURE SINCE 1945, beneath which five names have been added. That to the right is titled SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1946 and lists a further six names.

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, 17 January 2017.

History

The Second World War Memorial in Stratford-upon-Avon is located in the Garden of Remembrance. The garden opened in 1954 following the donation of the land to the Stratford branch of the Royal British Legion in 1951.

Reasons for Listing

Stratford-upon-Avon’s Second World War Memorial is designated 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 Second World War and subsequent conflicts of the C20 and C21;
* Architectural interest: an accomplished and well-realised design which good attention to its decorative detail;
* Degree of survival: the memorial survives intact in its original location;
* Group value: it has group value with the First World War Memorial also located in the Garden of Remembrance.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478104

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

• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings