Summary

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The tall granite cross stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Bartholomew (Grade I-listed), close to the entrance gate at the north-west corner of the churchyard. It comprises a rough-hewn Latin cross rising from a tapering plinth which stands on a three-stepped base. The names of the 12 First World War casualties are recorded on the front face of the plinth. The principal dedicatory inscription below reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. On the front face of the step are the dates 1939 – 1945, blow which are four names. A further name is recorded on the upper surface of the middle step.

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 outside St Bartholomew’s Church at Nymet Tracey as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 12 men from Bow parish, who lost their lives in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of the local men who died in that conflict were added to the base of the memorial cross.

Reasons for Listing

Bow Parish War Memorial Cross, which stands outside St Bartholomew’s Church, Nymet Tracey is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:
*     As an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on several local communities, and the sacrifice they made in the conflicts of the C20;
    
Architectural interest: 
*     A simple yet poignant war memorial cross in granite;

Group value:
*     With the Grade I-listed Church of St Bartholomew and numerous Grade II-listed churchyard monuments.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478886

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

• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)