Summary

First World War memorial unveiled in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: Clipsham stone cross.

DESCRIPTION: The war memorial cross is located within the churchyard of the Grade I-listed Holy Trinity Church. It is constructed of Clipsham stone and consists of a Latin cross with shields carved on four sides of the lower shaft representing St Michael, St Nicholas, St George and St Edmund.

The cross rises from an octagonal base which has a moulded cornice. The base bears the principal dedicatory inscription in medieval script which reads: TO COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED OUT OF THE SIGHT OF MEN BY THE PATH OF DUTY AND SELF-SACRIFICE 1914-1919. LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER SEE TO IT THAT THEIR NAMES BE NOT FORGOTTEN. There is then a two stepped plinth upon which are engraved the 96 names of the fallen from the First World War. The names of the fallen from the Second World War along with the dates 1939 - 1945 appear on the base of the memorial beneath the principal inscription.

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, 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 Long Melford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was designed by F E Howard, an architect who specialised in ecclesiastical furnishings, and built by F J Lindley of North Street, Sudbury. The memorial was unveiled on 10 October 1920 by Major General Sir C D Shute, K.C.B, K.C.M.G. It commemorates the 96 fallen from Long Melford in the First World War.

In 1946 twelve names of the fallen from the Second World War were also added to the memorial along with the dates 1939 - 1945. In 2014 a project was undertaken to clean and repair the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Long Melford War Memorial, in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, 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;
* Architectural interest: an elegant and well-crafted Clipsham stone Latin cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with the Church of the Holy Trinity (Grade I), Montgomery House (Grade II), Trinity Hospital (Grade I) and the registered historic garden of Trinity Hospital (registered Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678039

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

• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)