Summary
A First World War memorial, unveiled in 1921.
Description
A First World War memorial, unveiled in 1921.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is situated in the churchyard, to the north of the Church of the Holy Trinity (Grade II*). It comprises a plain, stone Latin cross on a low, square plinth and an octagonal base. There is a carved stone wreath resting against the front (north-west) face of the cross and the main inscription on the plinth reads: IN HONOURED MEMORY 1914-1919.
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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Bourton near Much Wenlock as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 13 local men who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on 12 February 1921 by Lord Wenlock, and the dedication was carried out by Bishop of Hereford. A wooden plaque within the church records the names of the fallen. The memorial appears to have been situated originally within the village and is depicted in its previous location on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1926. It was later moved to the churchyard and erected on its current base.
Reasons for Listing
Bourton War Memorial, within the churchyard of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Bourton 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 sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* it is a dignified commemorative structure that is well carved.
Group value:
* with the Grade II* listed Church of the Holy Trinity and the Grade II listed Bourton Manor.
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
Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
[(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)