Wavendon War Memorial Cross, Wavendon, Milton Keynes

Entry Name: Wavendon War Memorial Cross

Listing Date: 8 August 2018

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1458148

ID on this website: 101458148

Location: St Mary's Church, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK17

County: Milton Keynes

Civil Parish: Wavendon

Built-Up Area: Milton Keynes

Traditional County: Buckinghamshire

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Buckinghamshire

Tagged with: War memorial

Summary

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1919, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The Cornish granite cross stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade II*-listed), overlooking Walton Road. It comprises a rough-hewn wheel-head cross carrying a bronze sword on the front face. The cross-shaft stands on a rough-hewn tapered pedestal. The pedestal has been raised to allow a block of polished granite to be inserted underneath, standing on the original base step below.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF (17 NAMES)/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918. Below, the later inscription reads ALSO/ (8 NAMES)/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE WAR 1939 – 1945.

The cross is enclosed by four low concrete posts carrying spiked chains.

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 Wavendon as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 17 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. A “substantial yet pleasing design” costed at £100 was submitted to, and approved by, a Parish Meeting in May 1919. The meeting also agreed the site in the grounds of the parish church. The memorial was unveiled on 30 November 1919 by Mrs Waudby. Following the Second World War the names of eight local servicemen who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Wavendon War Memorial Cross, 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:

* a simple yet poignant granite memorial cross, in the Celtic style.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary (Grade II*-listed).

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.