South Wigston War Memorial

First World War memorial, built 1923; with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: Portland stone; Swithland slate; concrete filling.

DESCRIPTION: South Wigston War Memorial is located to the south-east of the Grade II*-listed Church of St Thomas, facing the road and with a low fence to the pavement.

The memorial is three-tiered with a central, tapered obelisk with projecting pedimented faces carved with an inverted sword on each side, a moulded cap and string of laurel carving around the base. It is set on a two-tiered Portland stone plinth inset with Swithland slate tablets. The plinths are filled with concrete. Three steps lead up to the memorial.

The bottom of the front face of the obelisk is carved with: THEY WERE A WALL UNTO US / BY NIGHT AND BY DAY / IN SACRED SLEEP THEY REST / SAY NOT THAT THE BRAVE DIE. Below this, the central projecting bay of the plinth is carved with the inscription TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF THE / MEN OF SOUTH WIGSTON / AND GLEN PARVA, WHO / GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE / WARS OF 1914 – 1918 / AND 1939 – 1945. The inscription is flanked by panels carved with cricketing and military equipment. The names and regiments of the fallen are incised and gilded into the 11 slate tablets below carved stone dates 1914-18 and 1939-45.