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Latitude: 51.8938 / 51°53'37"N
Longitude: -2.2309 / 2°13'51"W
OS Eastings: 384209
OS Northings: 221719
OS Grid: SO842217
Mapcode National: GBR 1KT.6TF
Mapcode Global: VH945.8NZL
Plus Code: 9C3VVQV9+GM
Entry Name: Twigworth War Memorial
Listing Date: 20 March 2018
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1454541
ID on this website: 101454541
Location: St Matthew's Church, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL2
County: Gloucestershire
District: Tewkesbury
Civil Parish: Twigworth
Traditional County: Gloucestershire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Gloucestershire
Tagged with: War memorial
War memorial, erected in 1920, with added commemoration for the Second World War.
War memorial, erected in 1920, with added commemoration for the Second World War.
MATERIAL
Carved from Portland stone.
DESCRIPTION
The war memorial stands within the churchyard, to the north-east of the church (unlisted) and is in the form of a stone Calvary with a sculpted figure of Christ under a canopy hood. There are carved floral motifs at intervals on the shaft and also two shields, with a chalice inscribed on one and ‘IHS’ on the other. The shaft rises from a hexagonal plinth that stands on a four-stepped base which is also hexagonal. The front (north) of the plinth is inscribed in Arts and Crafts-inspired Serif font: IN MEMORY / OF THE MEN / OF THIS PARISH / WHO GAVE THEIR / LIVES FOR THEIR / COUNTRY DURING / THE GREAT WAR / 1914-1918. The names of the Fallen are recorded on two sides of the plinth, while the rear face is inscribed: 1939-1945 / (NAMES).
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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 erected at Twigworth, within the churchyard of the mid-C19 Church of St Matthew, to commemorate the 15 local men who lost their lives during the First World War. It was carved by sculptor Arthur Frith of Gloucester, and the dedication ceremony by the Bishop of Gloucester took place on Sunday 19 September 1920. Following the Second World War a further inscription was added to the war memorial.
The war poet and composer, Ivor Gurney (1890-1937), who was born in Gloucester is buried in the churchyard.
Twigworth War Memorial in the churchyard of St Matthew’s Church is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* As a well-executed and finely-detailed commemorative structure in the form of a Calvary;
Historic interest:
* As an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
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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