Summary

First World War memorial by Jeffrey Lucas unveiled on 12 December 1920.

Description

MATERIALS: Ketton stone with flint panels.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a small medieval cross rising from a tapering octagonal shaft. The shaft is mounted on a polygonal plinth, itself surmounting a polygonal base with flint panels.

The inscriptions are carved in relief and read: STEEPLE MORDEN/ IN HONOUR OF THOSE/ WHO FOUGHT & IN/ MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919.

The left and right panels either side of this inscription are both headed by the word FALLEN followed by the names of those who fell.

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 Steeple Morden as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Steeple Morden War Memorial was designed by Jeffrey Lucas and constructed by W Whitehead of Royston. It was dedicated on Sunday 12 December 1920 and unveiled by Lieutenant Colonel E C M Phillips DSO.

The memorial was conserved in 2009 with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Steeple Morden 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 ornate and striking memorial cross surmounting an elegant polygonal plinth and base;
* Group value: with the Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade II*).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478076

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

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)