Hillesley and Tresham War Memorial

Hillesley and Tresham War Memorial stands in the village of Hillesley in the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. A limestone wheel cross on a small triangular green by a road junction, it honours the parish men killed in the First World War and has held Grade II listed status since 2013.

What is the memorial?

The monument is a wheel cross carved from limestone. War Memorials Online records it as the Hillesley Cross and gives its unveiling as 28 March 1920. The Historic England list entry dates its erection to around 1921 and notes that the parish council accounts already mention it in 1920.

It commemorates 13 men from the parish who died between 1914 and 1918. For a community this small, that was a heavy toll, and the memorial has remained the focus of local remembrance ever since.

Why is it listed?

Historic England added the memorial to the National Heritage List for England on 23 January 2013 at Grade II. The listing cites two grounds: its historic interest, as a telling witness to how global events struck a local community, and its architectural interest, in the design and craftsmanship of the monument.

The memorial was cleaned and conserved in 2002, with funding support from a War Memorials Trust grant.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The memorial sits in the centre of Hillesley, at the junction of Alderley Road and Kingswood Road (roughly 51.606 N, 2.335 W). The village lies on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, a short drive from Stroud. Driving is the easiest way to arrive; park on a side road nearby and walk the last few steps to the green. Cyclists will find quiet lanes around the village.

What will you see?

There is nothing to book and no opening hours: the memorial is an outdoor monument that you can view freely. Up close you can read the names of the fallen and look at the carving on the limestone shaft. A visit takes a few minutes, so it fits well into a wider walk through the village and the surrounding Gloucestershire countryside.

When is the best time to visit?

The green is accessible all year. The memorial carries the most meaning around Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday of November, and on 11 November, the anniversary of the 1918 armistice. In summer the surrounding grass is at its greenest, which makes it the best season for photographs.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee? No. The memorial stands on an open green beside the road and can be seen at any hour.

Who does it commemorate? 13 men of Hillesley and Tresham who died in the First World War.

Is the memorial a listed monument? Yes. Historic England has listed it at Grade II since 23 January 2013.

What is it made of? It is a limestone wheel cross, set on a triangular green at a road junction.