Summary

First World War memorial, erected c1920.

Description

First World War memorial, erected c1920.

MATERIALS: of granite.

PLAN: it is square on plan.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands at the entrance to the churchyard of St John the Baptist (listed Grade II*), on the S side of the footpath leading to the S porch. It comprises a three-stepped square base, a trapezoidal plinth and a short shaft which tapers in rectangular section to a Celtic wheel-head cross. Both the shaft and cross head have interlace and plain medallion ornamentation along with Celtic fret edging which gives the effect of a regularly entwined rope. A slate tablet fixed to the N side of the plinth bears the First World War dedicatory inscription which reads IN MEMORIAM / 1914 - 1918 / [Names].

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 20 February 2017.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 erected c1920 in the Leicestershire parish of South Croxton to honour seven local men who died during the conflict.

Reasons for Listing

South Croxton War Memorial, erected c1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifices it made in the First World War;
* Design interest: as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the form of a Celtic cross;
* Group value: with the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade II*) and North Manor Farmhouse (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478401

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

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)