Summary
A stone war memorial cross of 1920 date.
Description
A war memorial of 1920 date.
MATERIALS: constructed of a granite cross and York stone base.
DESCRIPTION: comprising a short wheel cross set atop a tall circular stone column standing on a square plinth with chamfered corners. The column rests on a four-stepped stone base set within a flowerbed.
The main inscription is in leaded lettering on the west face of the plinth and reads: TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN THANKFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF/ THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The names of the First World War fallen are listed on the south and east faces of the plinth, with the names on the east face being followed by the sentence: "OUR DEAD THROUGH WHOM WE LIVE." The inscription on the north face of the plinth reads: ERECTED/ BY THE/ PARISHIONERS/ OF/ GREAT BLAKENHAM.
A later stone tablet has been affixed to the west front of the top two steps, on which is inscribed: AND/ 1939 – 1945/ (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. The memorials, therefore, provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Great Blakenham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 13 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was erected by Mr Charles Mee (builder) and was unveiled on Sunday 29 August 1920 by Brigadier-General AL Schreiber CB CMG DSO.
The names of the six parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Great Blakenham War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* it is 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:
* it is a well-detailed war memorial in the form of a stone cross.
Group value:
* it has group value with the Church of St Mary (listed at Grade I).
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
Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)