Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 9 April 1922, with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: Cornish granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a tapering obelisk with a pyramidal top, approximately 3.6m high. It stands on a square plinth with sloping shoulders which is set upon a two-stepped base.

Inscriptions and names are carved on the faces of the plinth and all of the lettering is in inset, black-painted lead. The dedication appears on the north face of the plinth: TO OUR GLORIOUS DEAD/ THIS OBELISK IS/ ERECTED/ IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE/ STEWKLEY MEN/ WHO FELL IN DEFENCE OF/ THEIR KING AND COUNTRY./ 1914 - 1918. The names of the 30 fallen from the First World War appear on the other three sides of the plinth, ten per side. They are grouped alphabetically by surname and are identified by rank and initials.

The names of the six fallen from the Second World War are listed on the lower part of the north side of the obelisk, with 1939 - 1945 above. They are also listed alphabetically with rank and initials.

The memorial is set in a small enclosure of granite paving surrounded with a low granite sett border.

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 Stewkley 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 created by Newman and Harper of Aylesbury and it was unveiled on 9 April 1922 by the Earl of Orkney.

Following the Second World War, the names of those who lost their lives in that conflict were also added.

Reasons for Listing

Stewkley War Memorial, unveiled on 9 April 1922, 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified granite obelisk.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66477716

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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