Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 17 October 1920, with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: Limestone.

DESCRIPTION: The memorial is located in the centre of the village of Cheriton on the village green. It comprises a hooded wheel-head cross set on a square tapering shaft. The whole is set upon a plinth which carries a raised tablet which is inscribed: 1914-1919 / FOR ENGLAND / (NAMES) / FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.

Two of the other sides have the dates 1914 and 1919 in raised carving and another carries two engraved stones which read: O VALIANT HEARTS WHO TO YOUR GLORY CAME / THROUGH DUST OF CONFLICT AND THROUGH BATTLE-FLAME; / TRANQUIL YOU LIE, YOUR KNIGHTLY VIRTUE PROVED. / YOUR MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND YOU LOVED. / SPLENDID YOU PASSED, THE GREAT SURRENDER MADE, / INTO THE LIGHT THAT NEVERMORE SHALL FADE. / DEEP YOUR CONTENTMENT IN THAT BLEST ABODE. / WHO WAIT THE LAST CLEAR TRUMPET-CALL OF GOD.

The words of the inscription are from the hymn ‘O Valiant Hearts’ which remembers the fallen of the First World War.

Beneath this is a second plaque which reads: 1939-1945 / FOR ENGLAND / (NAMES) / FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.

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 Cheriton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 13 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The war memorial was dedicated on 17 October 1920.

Following the Second World War, a plaque was added to commemorate the six fallen of that conflict.

In 2014 the memorial was cleaned and conserved with the help of grant aid from the War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Cheriton War Memorial, unveiled on 17 October 1920, 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 hooded wheel-head cross displaying a high level of craftsmanship and good quality materials.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q55677207

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

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  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
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  The Shredded Chef: 120 Recipes for Building Muscle, Getting Lean, and Staying Healthy
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  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
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  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
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  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)