Summary

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: Granite wheel cross with applied metal lettering.

DESCRIPTION: Morval War Memorial is located at the roadside of the A387, approximately 70m to the south-east of the Memorial Hall and Old School House (Grade II-listed). It consists of a tall wheel-head cross in granite, with interlace patterns carved in low relief decorating the cross head. The cross rises from a plinth, square on plan, standing a single stepped base.

Two faces of the plinth form inset panels with inscriptions in applied metal lettering. The front panel reads IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE BRAVE MEN OF MORVAL/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (7 NAMES). The face to the right carries a later inscription for the Second World War, reading ALSO THE WORLD WAR./ 1939 – 1945/ (4 NAMES).

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 16 March 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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Morval as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. The memorial is thought to have been erected by Sweet and Sons of Liskeard. It commemorates seven local servicemen who died during the First World War. The four names of the fallen from the Second World War were added at a later date.

Reasons for Listing

Morval War Memorial, which stands at the roadside of the A387, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet imposing memorial cross in the manner of a wayside cross, with carved interlace patterns in the Celtic style;
* Group value: with the Grade II-listed Memorial Hall and Old School House.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478588

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

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  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
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  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
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  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
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  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)