Guarlford War Memorial

A village war memorial of about 1920 with additions and alterations from around 1945.

MATERIALS: rock-hewn granite with applied bronze ornaments and inset lead lettering.

DESCRIPTION: the cross stands in the north-western corner of the churchyard of the church of St Mary, Guarlford (Grade II), by the gate, on a platform of raised earth that allows it to be seen above the churchyard wall which, effectively forms part of its structure. The cross and shaft stand on a base of three steps and the plinth is contiguous with the top of the churchyard wall.

The road front faces north east. The cross has a Celtic circle head with a tapered shaft which shows a sword in relief. At the bottom of the shaft is a bronze laurel wreath in relief. The three steps have smooth rectangular panels at their centres which bear inscriptions. The topmost says: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN UNDYING MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF GUARLFORD’. The next step reads: ‘WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918’. Below this are crossed laurel fronds in bronze relief, and below that the words: ‘AND IN THE WORLD WAR / 1939 – 1945’. The lowest step is inscribed ‘MAY THEY REST IN PEACE’. In front of this, and set into the top of the wall, which forms the plinth, is a metal trough for flowers. The sides and rear of the memorial are bare and there are no names recorded on the monument.