Summary

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions. Portland stone Latin cross on a pier set into the churchyard wall.

Description

Gooderstone war memorial is located in the churchyard wall of the Church of St George (Grade I-listed). It comprises a tall, tapering Latin cross, octagonal in section, in Portland stone rising from a pier that is let into the churchyard wall. The pier has moulded upper corners and a deep chamfered foot. The inscriptions are on the pier’s south side, facing The Street, whilst the cross above is orientated perpendicularly so that it faces east. The incised inscription reads IN MEMORY OF/ THE GOODERSTONE MEN/ FALLEN IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ (19 NAMES)/ 1939 - 1945/ (3 NAMES).

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. 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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Gooderstone as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 19 local servicemen who died, and three men who fell in the Second World War. The same names are included on a roll of honour within the church.

Reasons for Listing

Gooderstone War Memorial, which is situated in St George’s Churchyard, 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 sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: as a simple but well-executed memorial cross in Portland stone;
* Group value: with the Grade I-listed Church of St George.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478762

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

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets