Summary
A village war memorial cross, erected in about 1920, standing at the centre of the village.
Description
A First World War village war memorial cross dating to about 1920, with later Second World War additions.
MATERIALS: granite.
DESCRIPTION: a plain cross set above a square base with a plinth of two steps. The memorial is located at the centre of the hamlet of Marshalsea, which is adjacent to Marshwood. The memorial has a Latin cross with plain, unadorned arms and shaft rising from an equally plain base, below which are two steps, the lower of which has a chamfered top.
INSCRIPTION: the base is inscribed to its east side, which faces the road, with enamelled inset lettering: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE / WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918. Names are listed below. The top step of the plinth has the inscription: 1939 - 1945, with a single name. The sides and back are plain.
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 in the parish of Marshwood, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It appears to date from about 1920.
The memorial was conserved in 2006 with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust. Works included repairs to damaged stonework with lime mortar, re-pointing using lime mortar and repainting the inscription with black enamel.
Reasons for Listing
Marshwood War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* As an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* As an accomplished and well-realised war memorial, which takes the form of a Latin cross.
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
Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)