Westbury On Trym War Memorial

Westbury On Trym War Memorial is a stone obelisk honouring local people killed in the world wars, standing in Westbury-on-Trym, a former village that is now a suburb in north-west Bristol. It sits on High Street in the historic heart of the area and carries Grade II status on the National Heritage List for England.

What will you see?

The memorial is a slim obelisk in pale limestone ashlar, raised on a square plinth. The plinth holds the name plaques and a carved swag decoration. The look is plain and dignified, typical of the memorials erected in England soon after the First World War. The official record dates it to around 1920. Alongside the First World War names, local people lost in the Second World War were added later, together with an inscription linked to Kohima.

What is its story?

After the war a local committee raised money for a memorial and hired the Bristol firm James and Steadman to design it. Their obelisk proposal caused a row. The vicar, the Rev Dr Wilkins, regarded the shape as a pagan symbol and objected, and the argument ran in the local press for months. The memorial was finally unveiled at 3pm on Sunday 11 July 1920, with the Lord Mayor of Bristol and the Bishop of Bristol in attendance. The vicar stayed away. Around 150 names of the fallen were recorded at that point.

The structure was listed on 4 March 1977 and the entry was amended in 1994. It was previously described as standing in the centre of a roundabout, a reminder of how the surroundings have changed.

How do you get there?

Westbury-on-Trym lies a few miles north-west of central Bristol. Local buses run from the city centre, and you can also drive. The memorial is beside a busy road, so a visit means viewing it from outside. It is open-air and free, with no tickets or opening hours.

When should you visit?

You can see it all year round. It has a particular atmosphere around Remembrance Sunday in November, when residents lay poppy wreaths here. At other times, pick a bright day so the names on the plaques are easy to read. Combine the stop with a walk around the suburb, which keeps its village street pattern and has an ancient collegiate church of the Holy Trinity nearby.

Is it worth a stop?

It is a modest but interesting site for anyone curious about local history and First World War remembrance. The dispute over its design shows how communities after 1918 worked out together how to honour their dead.

Frequently asked questions

Is the memorial a listed building? Yes. It is Grade II on the National Heritage List for England, entry number 1293153.

When was it unveiled? On 11 July 1920, in the presence of the Lord Mayor and the Bishop of Bristol.

Why was the design controversial? The local vicar considered an obelisk a pagan symbol and campaigned against the proposal.

Do you have to pay to visit? No. It stands in a public open space and can be viewed at any time.