Summary
A First World War memorial, erected in 1921.
Description
A First World War memorial, erected in 1921.
MATERIALS
Stone.
DESCRIPTION
The memorial, approximately 3m tall, takes the form of a plain Latin cross rising from the moulded top of an octagonal plinth, set on a two-stepped octagonal platform. The plinth is inscribed: IN GRATEFUL / MEMORY / OF / THOSE WHO DIED / IN OUR DEFENCE / (NAMES)/
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 Little Cheverell as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled in 1921.
The memorial was cleaned and repaired in 2018.
Reasons for Listing
The war memorial in Little Cheverell 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 church’s community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* for its design, a dignified Latin cross.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Peter (Grade II), in whose churchyard it stands, and two monuments in the churchyard (Grade II), with which it forms a poignant commemorative grouping.
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
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
For the Record
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
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