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Latitude: 52.6122 / 52°36'43"N
Longitude: -0.7161 / 0°42'57"W
OS Eastings: 487033
OS Northings: 302377
OS Grid: SK870023
Mapcode National: GBR CSC.CR4
Mapcode Global: WHFKV.ZL6S
Plus Code: 9C4XJ76M+VH
Entry Name: Preston War Memorial
Listing Date: 4 April 2018
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1454976
ID on this website: 101454976
Location: St Peter and St Paul's Church, Preston, Rutland, LE15
County: Rutland
Civil Parish: Preston
Traditional County: Rutland
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Rutland
Tagged with: War memorial
First World War memorial, unveiled in May 1920, with Second World War additions.
First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.
DESCRIPTION: Preston War Memorial is located in the churchyard to the east of the Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade II*-listed). It stands on a square area of paving.
The memorial is of Clipsham stone and takes the form of a Latin cross on a tall, tapering octagonal shaft with moulded collar and chamfered stops. The shaft rises from a four-sided plinth with moulded upper corners, surmounting a two-stepped, square base. Four square stone flower holders stand on the lower step of the base, one at each corner; a fifth stands adjacent to the memorial on the south side.
Stone panels have been added to the faces of the plinth carrying the First World War dedication and names. The dedication is to the east face of the plinth and reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE/ PRESTON MEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919. The 12 names of those who died are recorded to the north and south faces of the plinth. A further inscription to the west face reads THEIR NAME/ LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE.
The east face of the upper step of the base carries the Second World War dedication on a similar stone panel AND THOSE WHO FELL IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945. Two casualties are recorded from this conflict, one inscribed on a stone panel to the north face of the base and the other to a similar panel on the south face.
All lettering is incised, painted black.
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 Preston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 12 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was unveiled in May 1920 by Lieutenant General Sir A E Codrington and dedicated by the Bishop of Leicester.
Following the Second World War, a dedication and the names of the two men killed in that conflict were added to the memorial.
A photograph from the 1990s indicates that the inscriptions on the memorial had been significantly weathered. Stone panels have since been fixed to the plinth and base with renewed inscriptions and names.
Preston War Memorial, which is situated in St Peter and St Paul’s 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 Latin cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Peter and St Paul.
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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