Summary
First World War memorial with later additions for other conflicts.
Description
First World War memorial with later additions for other conflicts
DESCRIPTION: Bullinghope war memorial is located within the churchyard to the south of the Church of St Peter (Grade II-listed).
It consists of rough-hewn granite and takes the form of a Greek cross on a tapering shaft. The shaft rises from a tapering four-sided plinth on a single-step base.
The south face of the plinth has a smooth inset panel which carries the main dedication and names in incised lettering, painted black. The dedication reads IN PERPETUAL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THE PARISHES OF BULLINGHOPE/ GRAFTON AND LOWER BULLINGHAM WHO LAID/ DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (7 NAMES).
Two later metal plaques have been affixed to the plinth; that to the north face carries the names of those who died in the Second World War and that to the east face has the name of the single casualty from the conflict in Afghanistan.
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 raised at Bullinghope as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial commemorates the seven servicemen from the parishes of Bullinghope, Grafton and Lower Bullingham who died during the First World War. The memorial was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict and was in-situ by the Ordnance Survey County Series 25in map published in 1928.
Two plaques were later added to the memorial, one to commemorate the three who died during the Second World War and the other to the single casualty from Afghanistan.
The war memorial underwent restoration in 2017.
Reasons for Listing
Bullinghope war memorial, which is situated in St Peter’s churchyard, 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 sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a simple yet dignified Greek cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II-listed Church of St Peter.
External Links
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
Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair