Showcase result

Wimborne Minster

The war memorial in the market town of Wimborne Minster in east Dorset is a Doulting stone lantern cross topped by a crocketed spire. The lantern has a small sculpted figure on each of the four sides; one figure is a woman carrying a book, and the others represent the Madonna and child, St George and Christ on the cross. The cross stands on a slim pillar, on a square plinth and a hexagonal three-stepped limestone base. On one face of the plinth a laurel wreath is carved in relief and there is a dedication carved within it. The memorial is located within the churchyard of the Minster Church of St Cuthberga.

The fabric of the memorial was generally in good condition although there was some growth of moss and lichen and some joints needed re-pointing. However, the lantern was giving cause for concern as more than six pieces had fallen off and were in storage (the result of physical interference, such as footballs, rather than decay). In July 2005 English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation offered a grant of £1250 towards work to clean the memorial by brushing and the application of poultices to draw out stains, to rake out and re-point the steps and to fix damaged sections of steps and stonework with lime mortar, to apply a lime shelter coating to parts of the memorial and to re-paint the lettering. All work was to be carried out to match the original as far as possible.

The dedication on the front plinth of the memorial reads

To
the fallen
in the Great War
1914 – 1918
whose names
are inscribed
within the
minster

The dates 1939 – 1945 have also now been added.

An appeal to raise funds for a memorial was launched by the vicar, churchwardens and chairman of the Minster governors on 15th November 1919. The memorial was dedicated on Wednesday 2nd November 1921 by the Ven Archdeacon of Dorset in the presence of the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset. The architect was Ninian Comper and the sculptor W D Gough.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM1590
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 26678

War Memorials Trust has information that this memorial is listed at Grade II, but at the time of writing the listing records were not available on Heritage Gateway.
Information about the Gothic revival architect Ninian Comper (who also designed WM466)
Information about William Drinkwater Gough, sculptor

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

Return to search results | Start a new search