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Latitude: 52.3706 / 52°22'14"N
Longitude: -1.2618 / 1°15'42"W
OS Eastings: 450353
OS Northings: 274984
OS Grid: SP503749
Mapcode National: GBR 7P7.CT1
Mapcode Global: VHCTR.2PS2
Plus Code: 9C4W9PCQ+67
Entry Name: Rugby School War Memorial
Listing Date: 27 January 2015
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1423771
ID on this website: 101423771
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22
County: Warwickshire
District: Rugby
Electoral Ward/Division: Eastlands
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: Rugby
Traditional County: Warwickshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Warwickshire
Church of England Parish: Rugby St Andrew
Church of England Diocese: Coventry
Tagged with: Memorial
A memorial cross, of 1920, designed by Sir Charles Nicholson.
A memorial cross, of 1920, designed by Sir Charles Nicholson.
MATERIALS: of Clipsham stone, hexagonal in section with a lantern head, shaft, plinth and stepped platform.
DESCRIPTION: the head is in the form of a lantern, with alternating openings and closed panels which have a cross motif superimposed. All have moulded, ogee heads and gablets. Above this, the monument is crowned by a crocketed pinnacle. The shaft is gradually tapered and has a moulded base with broaches. The plinth has a cavetto moulding to the top and a chamfered base. To its south side is inscribed ‘IN REMEMBRANCE / OF OUR DEAD / 1914 – 1919 / THEIR NAMES ARE RECORDED / IN THE MEMORIAL CHAPEL’. Below this the plinth has four hexagonal steps.
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 17 January 2017.
The monument was unveiled on 19 June 1920 by Lieutenant-General Sir Montague Harper. The inscription on the monument refers to the Memorial Chapel, also designed by Sir Charles Nicholson, which was built to the south of Butterfield’s school chapel, and opened in 1922. Nicholson submitted designs for both in 1919 and a memorial fund for the two structures and associated scholarships, raised £50,000. Six hundred and eighty two former pupils of Rugby School died in the First World War, and more than a thousand in both world conflicts, including the war poets Rupert Brooke (1887-1915) and John Gillespie Magee Jr. (1922-1941).
The War Memorial Cross at Rugby School is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: the monument is the work of the noted architect, Sir Charles Nicholson, and is typical of his understated style of design.
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Group value: the cross stands in a conspicuous place in Rugby and has a strong relationship with several of the most prominent C19 school buildings.
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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