Wyggeston And Queen Elizabeth I College War Memorial

Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College War Memorial is a First World War memorial designed by Col. J C Baines, O.W., unveiled and dedicated on 10 July 1922. A Second World War memorial, in the form of a gate and gate piers, was added and dedicated on 19 March 1950, commemorating those who lost their lives in that conflict. The memorial stands outside the main entrance of the college, serving as a visual focal point from both Victoria Park Road and University Road.

The First World War memorial is a well-crafted pillar constructed from ashlar stone. The pillar is approximately 9 feet tall with recessed corners and stands on two square steps set within a circular stone area. Stone panels are set into each face: a limestone panel at the front displays the principal dedication, and slate panels on the other three sides list the names of those who died. A drip mould is positioned above each panel to protect the inscriptions. The main dedication reads INMEMORIAM/AETERNAM HUIUS SCHOLAE/ ALUMNORUM QUI IN SUMMO/ GLORIAM PATRIAE SALUTEM/ PEPERERUNT/ MCMXIV-MCMXVIII/ET/ MCMXXXIX-MCMXLV, with the school crest carved in stone above. The names of the 191 masters and old boys of the college who died in the First World War are inscribed alphabetically around the other three sides.

The Second World War memorial, approximately 3 metres in front of the earlier memorial, is linked to it by an extension to the paved area, and more recently by iron railings and a hedge. It comprises two low, square-plan piers with low walling connecting them. These piers support wrought iron gates; the right-hand gate features the Arms of the City of Leicester, and the left-hand gate features the school crest. The piers are constructed in ashlar, with recessed corners and stone panels front and back displaying the names of the fallen, inscribed with 1939-1945 above the lists.

The railings surounding the horseshoe-shaped enclosure are excluded from the list entry under section s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.