Building record 2185/1/6 - Rainow War Memorial Cross and Seat

<1> Historic England, 2011, The National Heritage List for England, 1437499 (Web Site). SCH6528.

The war memorial cross stands in a small garden to the south side of Tower Hill, opposite the Grade II-listed buildings of Tower Hill Farm. Built of Kerridge stone, the c6m tall cross comprises a small wheel-head cross rising from a tapered octagonal shaft. The moulded and decorated shaft foot stands on a tapering pedestal. The pedestal stands on a two-stage base, which stands on a low step.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the pedestal reads THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE./ IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF/ RAINOW WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. Commemorated First World War names are listed on the other sides of the pedestal.

A substantial seat, also in Kerridge stone, stands behind the memorial cross to the rear of the garden. The seat is formed of a rectangular bay of coursed stone walling, with internal stone benching to the rear and sides. The bay wall is modulated from the centre and capped. A stone plaque let into the rear wall records the Second World War dedication, reading IN PROUD & HONOURED MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF RAINOW WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ WORLD WAR 1939 – 45/ (7 NAMES).

<2> Leigh, R, 1996-2025, Welcome to Rainow (Web Site). SCH9779.

Designed and built by Andrew Sutton, a stone mason and the Rainow sub-postmaster.

<3> War Memorials Trust, War Memorials Online, WMO/183639 (Web Site). SCH9383.

<4> Imperial War Museum, Imperial War Museum: War Memorials Register (Digital Archive). SCH7820.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Land Line and Master Map Vector Maps, 23/05/2025 (Maps and Plans). SCH4491.