Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with names added after the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with names added after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: rough-hewn granite.
PLAN: the memorial stands in All Saints churchyard to the south of the Grade I listed church.
EXTERIOR: it is in the form of a short cross surmounting a trapezoidal plinth set on a rectangular stone base. The main inscription is on the front face of the plinth and reads: IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914–1918/ (8 NAMES IN TWO COLUMNS)/ ––/ 1939–1945/ (3 NAMES IN TWO COLUMNS)/ “FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH”/.
History
The aftermath of the First World War that was the great age of memorial building, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Saxtead 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 on 4 July 1920 and dedicated by the Canon R Abbay. The names of those parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Saxstead 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.
Group value:
* it has group value with the Grade I listed All Saints Church.
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
Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
For the Record
Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)