Halesowen War Memorial

A churchyard memorial cross to the fallen from both World Wars, unveiled in September 1921 and designed by Sir Harold Brakspear.

MATERIALS & PLAN: red sandstone ashlar, set with bronze plaques. The monument takes the form of a freestanding cross with octagonal shaft which has a base and stepped plinth. The platform on which it stands is bounded by a low, octagonal wall. This wall rises in height to the south, south-eastern and eastern sides of the octagon and its panels are set with rectangular bronze plaques which record the names of the fallen. The principal front faces north west. The monument is approached by a flight of five steps at right which have low walling to either side with a chamfered top. This continues around the octagonal platform, at the centre of which is the memorial cross, which has a plinth of two steps, each topped by a low wrought iron railing which appear to be later additions or replacements. The cross has a moulded base and the octagonal shaft rises to a decorative band below the large cross, which has crockets to the angles. The south-east side of the cross is similar. The angled walling to the south east which is set with plaques, rises higher at the centre and has a band of carved foliage to its top, below which is a plaque which reads: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF THOSE BRAVE / MEN OF HALESOWEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-1919 AND IN THE WORLD WAR OF 1939-1945 / FOR THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND FREEDOM’. The rear of the walled enclosure is plain ashlar.

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, 18 January 2017.