The war memorial was designed by Cecil Greenwood Hare and unveiled on 20 April 1922 by George Monckton-Arundell, 7th Viscount Galway, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council.

It was funded by public subscription to commemorate the 11,000 men of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who died in the First World War.

On either side is a tapering flight of steps, at the head of which is a pair of gates.

The inset tablets hold the names of parishes, towns and villages in the city and county.

The gate pillars hold raised tablets with the names of men and women from St Mary’s parish who died in the First World War.