Derbyshire War Memorials
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Memorial Title

Risley

Summary
Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a WW1 and WW2 war memorial pillar at the roadside in Risley, Derbyshire.
Images
Setting Memorial WW1 names WW2 names Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.
Further images may be available on request.
Locations
Last known location:
Roadside
Derby Rd (B5010)
Risley
Derbyshire
Nearest postcode:
DE72 3SU

NGR:
SK 46102 35661 ±5m
(Map opens in new window.)
Location details:
The memorial is adjacent to the gates at the entrance to the Church of All Saints
Type
Overall type: Pillar Overall condition: Fair. The inscription is legible and the memorial is cared for.


Description:

A Derbyshire Gritstone monument comprising a pillar on a pedestal, plinth and base.

The oblong tapered pillar has a recessed panel on the 6 o'clock face with the dates in relief in upright block lettering at the foot. It has an oblong capstone which has a bevelled top, moulded sides and a cyma recta moulding below. The pillar surmounts a small oblong plinth with plane vertical faces and bevelled top, and the whole surmounts an oblong pedestal.

The pedestal has the original recessed panel on the 6 o'clock face, with hollow chamfered borders, quadrant corners and the WW1 inscription incised in upright capital roman lettering and names in upright capital block lettering coloured black. At a later date the WW2 inscription and names were added to the 9 o'clock face, also incised with the dates in upright capital roman lettering and the names in upright capital block lettering coloured black.

The pedestal surmounts an oblong plinth with a bevelled top, ovolo moulding and vertical faces, which in turn surmounts a square plinth with rounded arrises and half canted corners.

Glossary
Components:

ComponentMaterialHeightWidthDepthCondition
CapstoneSandstone250600400Good
PillarSandstone2100450300Good
Plinth (to pillar)Sandstone100690535Good
PedestalSandstone660920760Fair
Plinth (to pedestal)Sandstone32012201060Fair
BaseSandstone18015251525Fair
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.
6 o'clock face of pillar:1914
1918

6 o'clock face of pedestal:IN PROUD AND GLORIOUS MEMORY OF
OUR BOYS WHO DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE
COLIN C. BAKER. LT.WM. McCALL JOHNSTONE. 2ND. LT.
LESLIE BAKER. M.C. LT.JOHN C. JOHNSTONE. SERGT.
LEON CHARLES BOSWORTHFREDERICK LAST
BERTRAM FIGGWALTER PACEY. SERGT.
JOHN HITCHCOCKFREDERICK J. PRINCE. M.M.
BASIL T. HOOLEY. M.C. MAJORSIDNEY STAFFORD
HENRY A. JOHNSTONE. MAJORROLAND TIVEY
THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED BY MANY FRIENDS
IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE

9 o'clock face of pedestal:1939 - 1945
GUNNER ALBERT EDWARD STEVENSON. R.A.
SERGEANT ARTHUR HALL WALKER. R.A.F.V.R.
A.B. ALEC WOOD. R.N.
SERGEANT M. E. WHEATCTOFT R.A.F.V.R.

Conflicts and people named:
ConflictFirst World War (1914-1919)Second World War (1939-1945)Totals
Action or eventNot statedNot stated
Number died14418
Number served and returned 00 0
Total names14418
Administration
Custodian: Presumed to be Risley with Hopwell Parish Council.

Local authorities:
From WW1: Risley Parish Council*; Shardlow Rural District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1959: Risley Parish Council*; South East Derbyshire Rural District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1974: Risley Parish Council*; Erewash Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.
( * The adjacent parishes of Risley and Hopwell are both administered by Risley with Hopwell Parish Council.)
History and Conservation
16th July, 1922: The memorial was unveiled by local businessman Mr Terah Hooley of Risley Lodge. Also taking part in the ceremony were Canon Massey and Mr Finch.

c1950: Three WW2 names were added to the 9 o'clock face.

c1960s?: The Risley Conservation Area was designated, the memorial lies within it.

10th November, 1967: The churchyard walls and gates, and the war memorial were listed Grade II, Heritage List for England Number 1087954

c2000: The fourth WW2 name was added.

4th February, 2008: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson and Alan Willmot. It was in fair condition and cared for. Some crumbling was noted at the bottom corners of the pedestal and some patching may have been carried out at the lower left corner of the inscription panel on the 9 o'clock face.
References
Stapleford and Sandiacre News; 22nd July, 1922; p7col3: a report on the unveiling ceremony.
Anon; Untitled; Undated: an eleven page paper compiled by local residents and providing biographical summaries, including some photographs, of the men named on the memorial.
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