Summary
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Cornish granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located at a junction between the villages of Wimpole and Arrington on Cambridge Road. It comprises a wheel-head cross with a Sword of Sacrifice carved in relief on the front face. The cross stands on a square plinth and base.
The front face of the plinth has a polished panel with the dedication IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF WIMPOLE AND ARRINGTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR/ COOUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES). At the base of the shaft is a polished panel with a list of the names of the Second World War fallen preceded by 1939 – 1945.
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 Wimpole as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the Wimpole and Arrington communities, who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
It commemorates 18 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the three fallen of that conflict. The memorial was rededicated in 1947 when a paved area surrounded by a raised sandstone kerb and posts were added.
In 2008 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
Reasons for Listing
Wimpole and Arrington War Memorial, which stands at a junction between the villages of Wimpole and Arrington on Cambridge, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as an elegant and well-executed Cornish granite wheel-head cross decorated with a relief-carved Sword of Sacrifice.
External Links
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Recommended Books
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
Old House Care and Repair