Bourton-on-the-Water War Memorial including gated enclosure

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

Bourton-on-the-Water War Memorial is located on the green beside the River Windrush, at the junction of High Street and Sherborne Street and in close proximity to a number of Grade II-listed structures. The tall stone memorial takes the form of a Latin cross rising from a moulded collar on a tapering octagonal shaft. That stands on an octagonal plinth. The foot of the cross shaft is decorated with carvings in low relief. The plinth stands on a four-stepped base, square on plan. The memorial stands in a square kerbed and gated enclosure, with a surrounding chain suspended on low stone posts.

The plinth is clad with metal plaques which bear the names of the fallen from both the First and also the Second World War. The principal dedicatory inscription on the front (north-east) face of the plinth reads 1914 1918/ 1939 1945/ TO THOSE OF THIS VILLAGE/ WHO MADE THE SACRIFICE/ FOR PEACE/ SONS OF THIS PLACE LET/ THIS OF YOU BE SAID,/ THAT YOU WHO LIVE ARE/ WORTHY OF THE DEAD./ THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT/ YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP/ A RICHER HARVEST ERE/ YOU FALL ASLEEP. A wreath is depicted on the plaque between the start and end dates of each conflict.

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, 10 January 2017.