Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled c 1920, with Second World War additions.

Description

First World War memorial, unveiled c 1920, with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: of stone.

PLAN: it is rectangular on plan.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands at the entrance to the churchyard of the Church of St Peter and St Paul, c 28m to the north-west of the north porch. It comprises a single-step base, a trapezoidal plinth and a shaft which tapers in rectangular section to a Celtic wheel-head cross with interlace ornament. The north-west face of the plinth bears the First World War dedication and is inscribed 'REMEMBER BEFORE GOD OUR / MEN WHO HAVE LAID DOWN THEIR / LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE / GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918'. Below are the names of the five men who died. On the plinth's south-west face is the Second World War dedication that reads '1939 - 1945' with the names of the two men who died inscribed below.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 16 January 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 England. One such memorial was unveiled c 1920 in the churchyard of the Church of St Peter and St Paul to commemorate the five local men who died during the conflict.

Reasons for Listing

Little Gransden war memorial, unveiled c 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;

* Design interest: as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the form of a Celtic wheel-head cross;

* Group value: with the Church of St Peter and St Paul (listed Grade II*), the base of a medieval churchyard cross (listed Grade II), the Old Rectory (listed Grade II), and Nos. 14 to 22 (even) Church Street, (all listed Grade II). It also makes a significant contribution to the character and appearance of the Little Gransden Conservation Area.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677944

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 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version