Upton and District War Memorial Cross

The Upton and District Cross stands in a small garden, situated beside the junction of Wealstone Lane and Heath Road. The memorial is made of Darley Vale stone. It comprises a tall wheel-head cross standing on a pedestal, square on plan, standing on a three-stepped square base. The plain, tapering, cross-shaft supports a wheel-head cross decorated with Celtic knot work carved in low relief. The memorial cross stands on a raised paved area, approached by two steps to the front.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 19./ IN HONOURED MEMORY OF THE MEN/ CONNECTED WITH UPTON AND DISTRICT/ WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN THE/ SERVICE OF THEIR KING AND COUNTRY/ THIS CROSS IS ERECTED BY THEIR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS/ “THEIR MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND THEY LOVED”. The names of the men who died are recorded on the eastern face of the plinth.

After the Second World War a square stone block was placed on the stepped base to the front of the memorial, spanning two of the steps, to accommodate the later dedication which reads THESE MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945 (9 NAMES).