Summary
First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The memorial stands in the churchyard, opposite the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*) and the adjacent Verger’s Cottage and Manor House (both Grade II-listed). It comprises a tall stone Latin cross standing on a substantial rectangular plinth, on a square single-stepped base. On the north-west face of the cross is a sword carved in relief.
The main inscription incised on the north-west face of the plinth, facing the church, reads IN LOVING AND GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF FYFIELD, LOCKERIDGE,/ AND OVERTON, WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ 1939-1945/ “IN SACRED SLEEP THEY REST./ SAY NOT OF BRAVE MEN THAT THEY DIE.” The First World War names are incised onto the side faces of the plinth, whilst the inscription to the rear face reads 1939 – 1945/ (5 NAMES). The names are all listed alphabetically, with the rank and regiment or Service of each man.
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 13/02/2018
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 West Overton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 23 members of the villages of Fyfield, Lockeridge and Overton who lost their lives in the First World War. In August 1919, local residents resolved to erect a memorial cross rather than a more expensive lych gate. The cross, designed by the architect Charles Ponting (1850-1932, responsible for numerous local buildings, many of which are listed) was dedicated in January 1921. The names of five parishioners who died during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
West Overton War Memorial, which stands opposite the Church of St Michael and All Angels, 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 memorial cross incorporating a carved sword.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*) and the adjacent Verger’s Cottage and Manor House (both Grade II).
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
Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings