Summary

First World War memorial by John Freeman and Sons of Penryn, unveiled on 13 November 1927, with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: granite obelisk with lead cross.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands at Woodacott Cross and comprises an obelisk rising from a square plinth on a three-stepped base. The front face of the obelisk has a metal Latin cross fixed to it. 

The inscription on the front face of the plinth reads: 1914 – 1918/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF/ (NAME). The other faces of the plinth are also inscribed: ROLL OF HONOUR OF THOSE WHO SERVED/ (NAMES).

On the top step at the front of the memorial is an inclined tablet which is inscribed with: 1939 – 1945/ KILLED/ (NAMES)/ FOR FREEDOM.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 25 July 2017.

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 the country, 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 Woodacott Cross as a permanent testament to the sacrifices made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Woodacott Cross War Memorial was erected in 1927 at a cost of £67 by John Freeman and Sons of Penryn, Cornwall. It was dedicated on 13 November 1927 in remembrance of Sergt T Skinner, the only person from the parish who was killed in action, as well as all those who served.

In 1947 a stone tablet was added at the base of the cross to record the two who fell in the Second World War.

In 2004 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from the War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Woodacott Cross 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 this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified granite obelisk.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478094

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)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6