Little Chester War Memorial

First World War memorial, unveiled and dedicated in 1920, with two Second World War memorial tablets placed beside it in 1947. It was re-sited in the late C20.

MATERIALS: of granite.

PLAN: the First World War memorial is rectangular on plan and faces north-east. It stands in front of a short section of late-C20 coursed rubble stone walling within which two Second World War memorial tablets are set.

DESCRIPTION: the First World War memorial comprises a two-step base on which stands a tall obelisk which tapers in rectangular section to a moulded top. Set upon the obelisk is a plain Latin cross with the centre inscribed with the christogram 'IHS'. The north-east face of the obelisk is inscribed with the names of 75 men who died, arranged by service then by rank and surname. The dedicatory inscription is inscribed on the base and reads 'ERECTED BY THE PARISHIONERS / IN LOVING AND GRATEFUL / MEMORY, AND HIGH APPRECIATION / OF THE ABOVE; WHO LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES IN THE / GREAT EUROPEAN WAR / 1914-1920. / ON THAT HAPPY EASTER MORNING / ALL THE GRAVES THEIR DEAD RESTORE, / FATHER, MOTHER, CHILD, AND BRETHREN / MEET ONCE MORE.’

The war memorial stands in front of a late-C20 coursed rubble stone wall within which two Second World War memorial tablets are set, flanking each side of the First World War memorial. The left-hand side tablet is inscribed with the dedicatory inscription and reads ‘KEEP IN REMEMBRANCE / THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH RECORDED HERE / THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT / JUSTICE, FREEDOM, LOVE AND MERCY / SHOULD SURVIVE’. The right-hand side tablet reads ‘1939-1945' below which are the names of 26 men who died. Whilst the tablets are listed the wall itself is architecturally modest and is excluded from the listing.