A Unique Memorial?

Certainly unique in Shropshire, and possibly the country, the war memorial at Ruyton-XI-Towns – now a listed building - consists of a cave carved eight feet into a sandstone cliff (known locally as the Brownhill) at the side of the road leading out of the village towards Baschurch. Benches on each side of the interior and a large cross at the back have all been carved out of the rock and a plaque records the names of local men who died during the Great War, with the legend ‘We will remember them. This present life is not the end’. It also honours the 130 other men who served from Ruyton-XI-Towns. After the Second World War, five names were added on a separate plaque and in 2007 the name of Alfred Rogers was added to those from the First War, having been missed off the original list. The novel memorial was the idea of architect Stanley Vaughan of London, proffered after he had visited the village.

It was created by local stonemason Warwick Edwards and his son, Len, under Vaughan’s direction. The unveiling and dedication took place in October 1920, during which an address was given by General Kenyon CB. He spoke at a time of turmoil and transition for the country, when the aftermath of war was being felt in the form of economic crisis, strikes and social unrest. General Kenyon reflected the concern of the ‘ruling classes’ in his speech, which included the words: “The way of force has failed in politics. It will equally be found wanting in industrial questions. Those who hate and wish to prevent war between nations must surely have equal hatred for war between classes and be equally determined to prevent it, and to bring all disputes to the peaceful arbitration of unselfish justice and mercy”. Ruyton’s unique memorial stands nowadays at the side of a very busy main road and care must be taken when visiting it.