Ansley War Memorial

ANSLEY

1728/0/10021 BIRMINGHAM ROAD 31-MAR-10 Ansley War Memorial

II A war memorial, erected in 1921, by an unknown architect. The memorial comprises a Portland stone cross on a slender, tapering octagonal shaft which stands on a stepped, square plinth with mouldings to top and bottom, below which is a three-stepped base. The whole memorial stands on a raised platform with battered sides, clad in roughly-squared Hollingford sandstone. The pedestal is inscribed on its western face: TO THE HONOUR / OF THE ANSLEY MEN WHO / SERVED THEIR COUNTRY / IN HIS MAJESTYS FORCES / DURING THE GREAT WARS / 1914 - 1919 / "LEST WE FORGET" / 1939 - 1945. The eastern face carries a modern, rectangular slate plaque with painted lettering giving the names of the 32 men who died in World War I, and the eight casualties from World War II.

HISTORY: The land upon which the memorial stands was gifted to the Parish Council by the Ansley Coal and Iron Company on 21 August 1920. The memorial was dedicated on 21 August 1921 by Dr Charles Lisle-Carr, the Bishop of Coventry. The memorial was originally flanked by two gun carriages, but these were removed at the outbreak of World War II.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION: Ansley war memorial is recommended for designation at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Social interest: an eloquent witness to the impact of tragic world events on this community * Historic interest: it has strong cultural and historical significance within both a local and national context * Architectural interest: it is a well executed war memorial of simple, elegant design

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 17 January 2017.