Summary

First World War memorial, 1919, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

Week St Mary War Memorial stands in the centre of The Square, in the middle of the village. Of rough-hewn granite, it comprises a Celtic cross set on a square shaft. This is set on a square, tapering, plinth, which rises from a two-stage, square, base. A reversed sword is carved in relief on the front face of the shaft, below which a carved inscription reads FOR/ ENGLAND/ AND/ RIGHT/ 1914-1919.

All other inscriptions are attached in metal lettering, painted black. On the front face of the plinth is added the inscription 1939-1945 (2 NAMES). The front face of the upper stage of the base reads TO THE MEMORY OF THE GALLANT DEAD. The face to the right of this reads THESE ALSO; that to the left, NOBLY. The names of the men who served in the First World War are listed on these three faces.

The memorial stands on a concrete base and is enclosed by a chain suspended from four wooden posts.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 13 December 2016.

History

Paid for by public subscription and local fundraising, Week St Mary War Memorial was executed by Bodmin Granite Company Ltd at a cost of £123 10s 4d. It was unveiled on 6 December 1919 by Sir George Croydon Marks MP, and dedicated by local clergy. The balance of the memorial fund contributed to the addition of names in 1948, to commemorate the men from the village who had died fighting during the Second World War. Railings which surrounded the memorial were removed in 1969 and new posts and chains were installed in 1970. Renovations were carried out in 2010, funded by War Memorials Trust, including the replacement of the post and chain fence.

Reasons for Listing

Week St Mary War Memorial, situated in The Square, 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 sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: a substantial Celtic cross in a local stone, standing in a prominent position in the village centre.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677374

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)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)