Summary

First and Second World War memorial. Erected c1920, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added later.

Description

First and Second World War memorial. Erected c1920, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added later.

MATERIALS: rough-hewn granite set in a concrete foundation.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church. It is immediately west of the porch of the Grade I listed medieval church. The memorial comprises a Celtic cross with a tapering shaft, c2m high, set upon a trapezoidal plinth and square base 0.8m high. A longsword is carved in raised relief on the cross; the crossguard of the sword matching where the cross’ shaft and crossarm meet. The front of the plinth has a flat recess, upon which is the inscription: IN/ HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ (NAMES). Nine names appear upon it with service branch or regiment. The base is inscribed 1939-1945/ (NAMES), with six names and service branch or regiment.

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, 7 December 2016.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw a huge wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected in circa 1920 to commemorate nine men of Litton Cheney who died during the conflict. A further inscription was added to the memorial following the Second World War, to commemorate six men who lost their lives during that conflict.

Reasons for Listing

Litton Cheney war memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Mary, 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;
* Group value: with the Grade I listed church of St Mary and four Grade II listed monuments in the churchyard.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677398

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

• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)