Guarlford War Memorial

Heritage listing

Details A village war memorial of about 1920 with additions and alterations from around 1945. MATERIALS: rock-hewn granite with applied bronze ornaments and inset lead lettering. DESCRIPTION: the cross stands in the north-western corner of the churchyard of the church of St Mary, Guarlford (Grade II), by the gate, on a platform of raised earth that allows it to be seen above the churchyard wall which, effectively forms part of its structure. The cross and shaft stand on a base of three steps and the plinth is contiguous with the top of the churchyard wall. The road front faces north east. The cross has a Celtic circle head with a tapered shaft which shows a sword in relief. At the bottom of the shaft is a bronze laurel wreath in relief. The three steps have smooth rectangular panels at their centres which bear inscriptions. The topmost says: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN UNDYING MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF GUARLFORD’. The next step reads: ‘WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918’. Below this are crossed laurel fronds in bronze relief, and below that the words: ‘AND IN THE WORLD WAR / 1939 – 1945’. The lowest step is inscribed ‘MAY THEY REST IN PEACE’. In front of this, and set into the top of the wall, which forms the plinth, is a metal trough for flowers. The sides and rear of the memorial are bare and there are no names recorded on the monument.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.