St Martins War Memorial

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

PLAN: the memorial stands on the north side of Overton Road within a square enclosure.

MATERIALS: it is constructed from red sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a stone Celtic cross with knotwork design on the cross head, with a tapered shaft and plinth, and a two-stepped base.

The south face of the shaft is recessed and bears an incised inscription which reads ‘ERECTED / IN / GRATEFUL / MEMORY / OF THE MEN / OF / ST MARTINS / WHO / LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES / IN THE / GREAT / WAR’. The foot of the cross shaft is incised 1914-1919. The south face of the plinth is recessed and lists the names of the 41 fallen from the First World War. Part of the south face of the top step of the base is cut at an angle and reads ‘1939 – 1945 / (7 NAMES). Below is the inscription ‘SEE TO IT THAT THEY SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN’. A black marble tablet reading ‘IN COMMEMORATION OF THE / 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF / VE AND VJ DAY / 1945 – 1995 / ST MARTINS PARISH COUNCIL’ abuts the south face of the upper step of the base.

The memorial stands on a concrete platform enclosed by modern metal railings.