Shropshire War Memorial

The Shropshire War Memorial, erected in 1922, is a First World War memorial designed by George Hubbard, with sculpture by Allan Wyon. It is constructed from Portland stone and bronze.

The memorial is a circular, open rotunda with a domed stone canopy and entablature supported by six Ionic columns. Inscribed on the frieze is: IN MEMORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF SHROPSHIRE WHO FELL IN THE TWO WORLD WARS 1914–18 AND 1939–45. The internal frieze features the arms of the six boroughs of Shropshire, one above each column. The rotunda sits upon a three-stepped granite plinth and is enclosed by a circular set of bronze railings, cast in a lozenge pattern.

At the centre of the rotunda is a bronze statue of Saint Michael, depicted as a field commander of the Army of God, wearing a full set of Gothic plate armour and holding a pennanted lance. His right hand is raised in benediction, and he is depicted with a halo in the shape of a solar cross and large feathered wings. The statue stands on a low, hexagonal plinth, surrounded by six hexagonal plaques inlaid into the monument’s floor.

The plaque directly in front of the statue is inscribed: REMEMBER / + / THE GALLANT / MEN AND WOMEN / OF SHROPSHIRE / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / FOR GOD KING AND / COUNTRY / 1914–18 + 1939–45. The remaining five plaques, in clockwise order, display the county arms of Shropshire, a Croix de Guerre, an empty cross in front of a rising sun, the badge of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, and the arms of the town of Shrewsbury.

A brass plaque set into the ground in front of the enclosure gates reads: This War Memorial was built in 1922–3 in honour of the men and women of Shropshire who fell in the Great War of 1914–18. The war dead of 1939–45 are also commemorated by this monument. It was designed by George Hubbard and Son, built in Portland stone, and incorporates a richly embellished floor showcasing the County and Regimental arms on a gold mosaic background. The seals or arms of the six boroughs of the County are embossed on the inside frieze. The bronze figure of Saint Michael beneath the canopy is by A G Wyon.