Summary

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

Description

DESCRIPTION: The tall stone memorial cross is located on the corner of Church Street and High Street, Steeple Ashton. A Latin cross stands at the top of the decorated limestone shaft, rising from the capital of the shaft. The capital is decorated with carved acanthus leaves, and the shaft is decorated with a twisting rope pattern and roses carved in low relief.

The front face of the foot of the cross shaft is inscribed with the dates 1939-1945, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War on the remaining faces. The shaft stands on a plinth, square on plan, upon which the names of the dead of the First World War are inscribed. The plinth stands on a circular two-stepped base. The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth reads 1914 - 1918/ OUR/ VALIANT/ DEAD.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: A stone flower vase inscribed BEST KEPT/ WAR/ MEMORIAL/ 1963 stands on the upper step of the base, to the rear and, to the front, a planter stands on the lower step. The monument stands within a paved area, separated from the footway by a low wall and approached by two steps. These features are not of special interest.

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 December 2016.

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 raised at Steeple Ashton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 27 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. Following the Second World War the details of six men who fell in that conflict were added.

Reasons for Listing

Steeple Ashton War Memorial, which stands at the junction of Church Street and High Street, 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: a well-carved and delicately ornamented memorial cross;
* Group value: with numerous Grade II-listed structures around the road junction.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678108

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

• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)