Meriden War Memorial

First World War memorial, erected in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: a stone platform, base and pedestal with a timber, canopied cross and a cast-iron figure of Christ. The inscription panels are granite.

DESCRIPTION: located at the junction of Berkswell Road and Main Road the war memorial comprises a stone platform, a three-stepped square base, and a pedestal surmounted by a calvary cross with a canopy. The pedestal has a splayed base rising to concave corners and a moulded cornice. To either side of the inset inscription panels are engaged chamfered and moulded pillars with broach stops. On the front (north-east) face of the chamfered timber cross is a cast-iron figure of Christ, painted white. Above is a small scroll shaped plaque inscribed with the initials ‘INRI’, Iesus Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm, translated as Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The chamfered barge boards of the timber canopy include the carved inscription THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH.

To the front-facing (north-east) panel of the pedestal is the inscription:

OF YOUR CHARITY PRAY / FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE / WHO FELL IN THE / GREAT WAR

Beneath are the names of 13 men who died.

The panel on the south-east face is inscribed:

IN GRATITUDE FOR THOSE / WHO RETURNED SAFELY

with the names of the additional 78 men who served and returned recorded on this and the panels to the other two sides.

A plaque has been added to the top step with the dates 1939-1945 and the names of seven men who died in the Second World War. An additional plaque records the names of the eight men that returned.