Summary
A First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, altered after the Second World War.
Description
A First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, altered after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Portland stone.
DESCRIPTION: The memorial stands in the south corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Andrew, beside the junction of Church Road and Bures Road.
The memorial comprises a small Latin cross on top of a tapering octagonal shaft with an octagonal plinth and four-stepped base. The main inscription is incised and the black-painted lettering on the south face of the upper step of the base reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE / FROM THIS PARISH WHO / GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE / GREAT WAR 1914-1918 / THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. The names of the 33 fallen are inscribed on the south-west, south and south-east faces of the plinth.
Further inscriptions on the upper step of the base commemorate those who lost their lives in the Second World War, and read: on the south-east face 1939-45 followed by five names; and on the south-west face 1939-45 and a further five 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 Great Cornard as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 33 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
It was designed by Messrs Earee and Haslewood, erected by Messrs SB Peagrum, and the lettering engraved by FJ Lindley. The total cost of the memorial was approximately £200, which was met by public subscription. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 24 October 1920 by the Lord Lieutenant Sir T Courtenay Warner KCB.
The names of those parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Great Cornard War Memorial 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 local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as a well-executed example of a small Latin cross type of war memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Andrew.
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
London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
For the Record
Period Property Manual (New Ed)
Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)