History in Structure

Tilshead War Memorial

A Grade II Listed Building in Tilshead, Wiltshire

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.2307 / 51°13'50"N

Longitude: -1.9519 / 1°57'6"W

OS Eastings: 403455

OS Northings: 147946

OS Grid: SU034479

Mapcode National: GBR 3XR.Z6G

Mapcode Global: VHB52.3BZD

Plus Code: 9C3W62JX+76

Entry Name: Tilshead War Memorial

Listing Date: 9 February 2018

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1452036

ID on this website: 101452036

Location: St Thomas a Becket Church, Tilshead, Wiltshire, SP3

County: Wiltshire

Civil Parish: Tilshead

Built-Up Area: Tilshead

Traditional County: Wiltshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Wiltshire

Tagged with: War memorial

Summary


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

Description


The memorial stands in the southern corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Thomas a Becket (Grade I), and in close proximity to a number of Grade II-listed buildings and churchyard monuments.

The tall stone memorial comprises a Maltese cross on a cross shaft, rectangular in plan, with a simply moulded foot standing on a substantial plinth and two-stepped base. The base incorporates tapering cornerstones. The face of the cross is ornamented with a reversed sword carved in low relief; a wreath encircles the hilt and guard carved on the cross-head. At the top of the front face of the plinth two carved angels hold a wreath over the dedicatory inscription.

The main inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOUR/ OF THE MEN OF/ THIS PARISH WHO/ FELL IN THE GREAT/ WAR OF 1914 - 1918 / (12 NAMES). The names are listed with rank and regiment. A further inscription on the south face of the upper step of the base reads THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ 1939 - 1945/ (1 NAME).

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 Tilshead as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 12 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Plans for the memorial cross were drawn up in 1920 and it was erected at some time before 1923. The name of one man who died during the Second World War was subsequently added to the memorial. In around 2014 the memorial was restored at the behest of Tilshead Parish Council.

Reasons for Listing


Tilshead War Memorial, which stands in the 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:

* an elegant memorial cross incorporating symbols of sacrifice including a reversed sword, wreaths and angels carved in low relief.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Thomas a Becket (Grade I) and a number of Grade II-listed structures including Church House, Old Vicarage, and churchyard monuments.

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.

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