Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions. Wheel-head stone cross on a tapering plinth with single-stepped base.

Description

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: granite wheel-head cross.

DESCRIPTION: Great Plumstead War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary the Virgin (Grade II). It is prominently situated to the left of the path leading to the south porch of the church. The memorial comprises a stone wheel-head cross on a steeply tapering, four-sided plinth, with a single-stepped base below. The memorial is signed POTTER but the identity of this maker is unconfirmed.

The incised inscription to the east face of the plinth reads: SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF/ (10 NAMES) / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN/ THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 whilst the later inscription to the south side reads: ALSO OF/ (NAME)/ 1939 - 1945 / (NAME).

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 Great Plumstead 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 was unveiled and dedicated in 1920, commemorating ten local servicemen who had died. Following the Second World War the names of two men who died in that conflict were added.

Reasons for Listing

Great Plumstead War Memorial, which is situated in St Mary’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 stone wheel-head cross;

* Group value: with the Grade II listed Church of St Mary the Virgin.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478770

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

• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair