Summary

First World War Memorial erected in 1919 by the parishioners of Mangotsfield in memory of the men of the parish who lost their lives whilst serving their country in the First World War and later also of those who lost their lives in the Second World War.

Description

First World War Memorial erected in 1919 by the parishioners of Mangotsfield in memory of the men of the parish who lost their lives whilst serving their country in the First World War.

The memorial is constructed in granite in the shape of a Latin cross set on a stepped base set in the centre of a hexagonal shaped flower bed with matching granite surround. The front has a plaque (now, 2015, obscured by a hedge) which is inscribed as follows:

THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED/ BY THE PARISHIONERS BY VOLUNTARY EFFORT IN THE/ YEAR 1919 TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL AND/ REVERENT MEMORY OF THIRTY ONE MEN OF/ MANGOTSFIELD WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919 AND WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS CROSS. THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.

A bronze plaque with 31 names including rank is attached to the rear of the base of the cross (now, 2015, treated as the front of the memorial), with a small bronze plaque with a name added at a later date attached below.

History

First World War Memorial erected in 1919 by the parishioners of Mangotsfield in memory of the men of the parish who lost their lives whilst serving their country in the First World War.

The memorial was originally located 40 metres north of its current location, standing in the centre of St James's Place. The Memorial Garden in which it now stands was created in the late C20, and it is likely the war memorial was moved here at that time. The Memorial Garden itself is dedicated to Alec Martin Large, former Chairman of the Royal British Legion's Staple Hill Branch, as recorded at the entrance on a plaque on one of the gate piers.

Reasons for Listing

Mangotsfield war memorial, moved to its current location in the late C20, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet refined Latin cross design, well-crafted in stone, and set within late but sympathetically-arranged gardens;
* Intactness: the structure is unaltered;
* Group value: it makes a positive and important contribution to the street scene and groups well with the neighbouring listed building.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677131

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014