Gawsworth War Memorial

First World War memorial of 1920 with Second World War additions and some late-C20 alteration.

MATERIALS: timber Calvary on a stone plinth.

DESCRIPTION: set in the angle between two roads, just to the north of a medieval preaching cross (scheduled monument), the memorial takes the form of an octagonal timber cross with a carved figure of Jesus and ‘INRI’ plaque above. The crucifix is approximately 2m tall and surmounted by a duo-pitched plank roof with ridge copper flashing. The arms have undercut hollow chamfers at the ends. The stone plinth is battered and approximately 1m square and 1m tall. The north facing inscription reads: THE SOULS/ OF THE RIGHTEOUS/ ARE IN THE HAND OF/ GOD/ AND THERE SHALL NO/ TORMENT TOUCH THEM

The upper west face has an inscription which reads:1914-1919/ R.I.P/ (NAMES, six, in alphabetical order). Below this an additional inscription reads: 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES, three, in alphabetical order, with ranks for two matching names).

This is repeated on the east face, which has five names of the First World War and three of the Second. The south facing inscription reads: GAWSWORTH/ PEOPLE. SET . UP/ THIS . CALVARY/ IN . THE . YEAR . OF/ GOD’S . INCARNATION/ 1920/ IN . MEMORY . OF . THEIR . LADS/ WHO . GAVE . THEIR . LIVES/ IN . THE . WAR . OF/ 1914 – 1919