Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 2 February 1921, with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.
DESCRIPTION: Winterbourne War Memorial is located in the south-west corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II-listed).
It takes the form of a granite cross pattée above a moulded collar on a tall, tapering shaft with chamfered edges and stops. This rises from a tapering, four-sided plinth on an octagonal base.
The main inscription and names are incised on the western face of the plinth, which reads, FROM THE 3 WINTERBOURNES/ WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE." The names of 21 servicemen who died are recorded above the inscription.
A wedge-shaped stone tablet has been placed against the base of the memorial on its western side and bears an inscription in leaded lettering, which reads 1939 – 1945/ (6 NAMES).
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 Winterbourne Earls as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 21 members of the local communities of Winterbourne Earls, Winterbourne Dauntsey and Winterbourne Gunner who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on 2 February 1921.
The names of the six local servicemen who died in the Second World War were recorded on a stone tablet, which was placed against the base of the memorial following that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Winterbourne War Memorial, which is situated in St Michael and All Angels’ 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 well-executed cross pattée memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II-listed Church of St Michael and All Angels.
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
London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)