St Martins War Memorial

St Martins War Memorial is a First World War memorial that was unveiled in 1923, with later additions for the Second World War. It is located on the north side of Overton Road within a square enclosure and is constructed from red sandstone.

The memorial features a stone Celtic cross with a knotwork design on the cross head, a tapered shaft, and a plinth, all resting on a two-stepped base. The south face of the shaft is recessed and has an incised inscription that 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 inscribed with the years 1914-1919. The south face of the plinth is also recessed and lists the names of the 41 men who fell in the First World War. The south face of the top step of the base is cut at an angle and reads ‘1939 – 1945 / (7 NAMES)’, with the inscription ‘SEE TO IT THAT THEY SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN’ below it. Additionally, a black marble tablet that reads ‘IN COMMEMORATION OF THE / 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF / VE AND VJ DAY / 1945 – 1995 / ST MARTINS PARISH COUNCIL’ is placed against the south face of the upper step of the base.

The memorial is set on a concrete platform that is enclosed by modern metal railings.