Summary

First World War memorial of 1920 with Second World War additions.

Description

MATERIALS: granite.

DESCRIPTION: Poynton War Memorial comprises a Latin cross enriched with carved scrollwork decorative details on the cross and collar. The cross rises from a tall tapering octagonal shaft which stands on a square plinth and three-stepped base. The plinth carries the black leaded inscriptions.

The main dedication reads: TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD/ FOR THE MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF POYNTON/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ FOR THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The names of those who lost their lives are inscribed on the sides of the plinth

Around the base are the following inscriptions: ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF POYNTON/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ WHOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT.

Set into the steps of the base are four rectangular inclined tablets dedicated to those who lost their lives during the Second World War. The dedicatory plaque reads: IN MEMORY OF THOSE OF POYNTON/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1939 – 1945/ THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD,/ AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD;/ AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM,/ NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN./ AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN/ AND IN THE MORNING/ WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM.

The memorial is surrounded by a low stone kerbed enclosure.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Poynton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 33 local servicemen who died during the First World War. 

It was unveiled in 1920 by Lord Vernon. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 31 fallen of that conflict.

In 2012 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust. A name was also added to the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Poynton War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant granite cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with the Church of St George (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66477824

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

• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)