Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later-C20 replacement cross.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920, with a later-C20 replacement Latin cross.
MATERIAL: granite.
DESCRIPTION: Holton St Mary war memorial stands in a prominent position in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (listed Grade II*), immediately to the west-south-west of the south porch.
The memorial comprises a small Latin cross atop a shaft which tapers, circular in section from a square plinth, the whole standing on a single-stepped, square base. A tablet fixed to the front of the plinth bears the main dedicatory inscription which reads 'IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / [NAMES] / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY / 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 in Holton St Mary in Suffolk as a permanent testament to the five men of the parish who died during the conflict. It was unveiled and dedicated on 16 May 1920 by the Reverend CJ Howard, Rector of Holton St Mary. The memorial is described in a contemporary newspaper article as comprising ‘an ornamental lamp, on pillar and pedestal’. As the memorial is now topped by a Latin stone cross it appears that the original ornamental lamp has now been lost.
Reasons for Listing
Holton St Mary War Memorial, unveiled and dedicated in 1920, with a later-C20 replacement Latin cross, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of a world event on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the First World War.
Architectural interest:
* as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the form of an obelisk.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Mary (listed Grade II*).
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
For the Record
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)