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Woodchester Wayside Cross

In the Gloucestershire Cotswold village of Woodchester is a Grade II listed wooden wayside cross which stands at the intersection of four low brick walls, upon which are inscribed, in a red oxide paint on polished limestone plaques fixed to the walls, the names of the fallen. The memorial stands at the top of steps leading up through the churchyard to the Catholic Church of the Annunciation, Woodchester Priory, adjacent to the road between Stroud and Nailsworth. The path up to the memorial has wooden fencing on either side, and the fencing continues around the memorial.

In 2002/3 English Heritage offered a grant of £3515 for work in two phases. The first part of the project was to investigate the condition of the incised plaques, in particular the appearance of a coloured finish to some of the incised lettering. The red oxide pigment had proved very water soluble so much of it had leeched onto the surrounding stone. From the investigations a detailed method statement was to be produced with recommendations. Subsequently, in March 2003, the rest of the money was released for phase two of the project. This comprised firstly removing the ceramic wreath to a workshop for redecoration, filling large joints in the masonry below the cross and cleaning the memorial with water and soft bristle brushes. The panels were cleaned of lichen and of the red pigment which had discoloured the surrounding stone and a surface consolidant was applied to provide a protective coating to the painted finishes. The loose joints of the memorial and paving were raked out and re-pointed and the coping stones on the wall replaced and bedded in with a lime mortar mix to match the original. Further work to the wider area was also carried out; weedkiller was applied to the paving and steps, two steps were replaced, the gate piers were cleared of long grass and then loose pointing removed and re-pointed, the ironwork of the gates was brushed clean and the iron cleaned and primed before being painted. The timber was also brushed clean and cleared of tall grass before wood preservative was applied.

The memorial has a dedication stone, which must have been added after the memorial was finished, recording that

"This wayside cross
was erected June 5th 1917 by the
Dominican Friars
of Woodchester with the generous assistance
of all classes and creeds from the
district in memory of those who gave
their lives in the cause of freedom in the
Great War
1914 - 1918"

Most memorials to the fallen of World War I were not commissioned until after November 1918. 4th August, the anniversary of the outbreak of the war, was known during the conflict as Remembrance Day. This cross was completed in August 1917 and the first Remembrance Day service was held at this memorial on 4th August 1918 and was attended by five thousand people, including Cardinal Bourne, the Catholic Primate, who gave the sermon. The Dominican priory had been erected in 1858, and educated candidates for the priesthood.

Originally the memorial was a crucifix, but the figure of Christ has long since disappeared and has been replaced by a ceramic wreath.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM318
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 20750

The National Heritage List for England

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

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