Summary

War memorial in the form of a gabled stone cross on a plinth.

Description

Gabled cross atop a tall shaft, with a (partially eroded) sculpture of Christ, replete with INRI scroll. This rests on a plinth; the front face bears the (partially eroded) inscription: IN MEMORY OF THOSE / WHO FROM / THIS PARISH AND CONGREGATION / LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES / FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY / 1914 - 1918 / FOR ALL LIVE UNTO THEE / LUKE XX 38; the right and left faces bear the names of the Fallen. The plinth rests on a 3-step base, the top two tiers of which are octagonal.

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, 24 November 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 the country. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised in Benhilton outside All Saints Church as a permanent testament to the sacrifices made by the members of the local community. It was unveiled circa 1920.

Reasons for Listing

Benhilton War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifices it made in the First World War;
* Design: as an imposing and dignified gabled cross war memorial;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed All Saints Church.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q32945801

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

• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)