Bolsterstone War Memorial

The Bolsterstone War Memorial is a First World War memorial built in 1920, with later additions for subsequent conflicts. It is situated within the churchyard to the south of the Church of St Mary, which is also a Grade II-listed building, and faces the main road through the village.

The memorial features a tall, Saxon-style wheel-head cross that rises from a three-stepped, square plinth, which is set on a narrow stone base. The cross and shaft are adorned with ornate interlacing knot work designs carved in relief on inset panels on the east face, and a raised circular boss is located at the center of the cross-head. The plinth displays inscriptions and names in incised lettering.

The main inscription is on the east face of the upper step of the plinth, which reads: "THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND/ LOVING MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY./ “THE MEN WERE VERY GOOD UNTO US AND WE/ WERE NOT HURT…. THEY WERE A WALL UNTO/ US BOTH BY NIGHT AND DAY.”/ I.SAM.XXV.V.15.16. The names of 48 fallen soldiers, including their regiment and date of death, are inscribed on the east face of the middle and lower steps of the plinth, as well as on the north and south faces of the middle step.

On the west face of the upper step, there is an inscription that reads: "REMEMBER ALL KILLED/ IN LATER CONFLICTS/ AND HERE ESPECIALLY." The step below lists five names, three of which are casualties from the Second World War, while two are from later conflicts. The west face of the lower step identifies the stonemason as DAVID BREARLEY AND SONS.