Lenton War Memorial

Lenton War Memorial is a First World War memorial in Old Lenton, a historic district of Nottingham, England. A metal cross rises from a tall column of Portland stone, and it stands at the junction of Sherwin Road and Church Street. It is a protected, listed monument and one of the most recognisable landmarks of this part of the city.

What is Lenton War Memorial?

The memorial commemorates the men of Lenton who died in the First World War. It was raised by the local community, and the listing record says it was erected by the inhabitants of Lenton. Its design is simple and dignified: a cross on top of a stone column, set on a stone base. Bronze plaques are fixed to the faces of the base and carry the names of the fallen.

Coordinates are roughly 52.9464 N, 1.1786 W, which places it in the western part of Nottingham, close to the Queen's Medical Centre side of the city and not far from the University of Nottingham campus.

What is its history?

Local records date the monument to the years just after the war. The community built it in 1919, and a public unveiling followed in May 1920. A newspaper report of the day describes a ceremony disrupted by a storm, a detail that local historians still mention.

The memorial was renovated in 2009 and rededicated that November, so the stone and bronze are in good condition today.

Among the names recorded is Dorothea Cewdson, a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment who died in France in March 1919. Her inclusion is a reminder that the memorial honours women who served as well as soldiers.

What is around it?

The memorial forms the focal point of the Albert Ball Memorial Homes, a group of almshouse-style dwellings built behind it a few years later. They honour Albert Ball, the Nottingham-born fighter pilot. Seen together, the column and the homes make a small, coherent group of remembrance architecture.

Elsewhere in Lenton you can find traces of other local wartime commemoration. Street shrines were unveiled in the area in 1916, and a roll of honour survives for Alderney Street, where dozens of men from a short terrace enlisted. Online lists of Second World War casualties from Lenton also exist for those who want to research families.

Visiting tips

• The memorial is outdoors and can be visited at any time; there is no entry fee.
• It is a quiet place of remembrance, so keep noise down and treat the site respectfully.
• Remembrance Sunday in November is when local people gather here, if you want to see it in use.
• Combine the visit with a walk through Old Lenton and its historic streets.
• Public transport links from the city centre are frequent, and the area is easy to reach on foot from nearby parts of Nottingham.

Frequently asked questions

When was Lenton War Memorial built? It was erected in 1919 and unveiled in May 1920.

What is it made of? A metal cross on a Portland stone column, with a stone base and bronze plaques.

Is it listed? Yes, it is a listed structure, described in the national heritage list.

What are the Albert Ball Memorial Homes? Homes built behind the memorial a few years after it was raised, named after the Nottingham pilot Albert Ball.

Is there an entrance fee? No. It is a public monument in the open air.