Summary

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

Description

The war memorial stands south of the church in the churchyard of the Grade II*-listed church of St Mary the Virgin. It overlooks Bedford Road and is adjacent to the former school. A number of listed churchyard monuments stand close by. The memorial is a sturdy, 4m high, Weldon Stone cross with a foliate wheel-head. The octagonal cross shaft, with HIS carved to both front and back on the moulded transition of the cross and shaft, rises from a short octagonal plinth. The plinth stands on a shallow, two-stepped, octagonal base.

The plinth bears Westmoreland slate dedicatory plaques. The main dedication reads TO THE GLORY OF/ GOD/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF LITTLE/ HOUGHTON WHO LAID/ DOWN THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/1914-1918. The names of those who fell appear on flanking plaques. To the rear a plaque records ALSO TO THOSE WHO IN/ 1939 – 1945/ SERVED AND DIED/ TO PRESERVE OUR/ GLORIOUS HERITAGE (3 NAMES).

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, 17 January 2017.

History

Little Houghton War Memorial was dedicated on 12 October 1919. Further inscriptions were added to commemorate those villagers who died serving during the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Little Houghton War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Mary the Virgin, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: a well-executed medieval-style cross;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed church of St Mary the Virgin, 46 Bedford Road (Grade II-listed) and numerous listed monuments in the churchyard.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677436

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.

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  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)