History in Structure

Michaelstow war memorial

A Grade II Listed Building in Michaelstow, Cornwall

We don't have any photos of this building yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 50.5779 / 50°34'40"N

Longitude: -4.7123 / 4°42'44"W

OS Eastings: 208058

OS Northings: 78863

OS Grid: SX080788

Mapcode National: GBR N3.DTM0

Mapcode Global: FRA 170J.XMM

Plus Code: 9C2QH7HQ+53

Entry Name: Michaelstow war memorial

Listing Date: 2 August 2017

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1448632

ID on this website: 101448632

Location: St Michael's Church, Michaelstow, Cornwall, PL30

County: Cornwall

Civil Parish: Michaelstow

Traditional County: Cornwall

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Cornwall

Tagged with: War memorial

Find accommodation in
Michaelstow

Summary


War memorial, erected in about 1919.

Description


War memorial, erected in about 1919.

MATERIALS: granite, with black metal lettering on marble tablets.

DESCRIPTION: located to the left of the west entrance to the Church of St Michael (Grade I), the war memorial comprises a Celtic-style wheel cross with tapered rectangular shaft, surmounted on a tapered square plinth and square base. The plinth, shaft and cross have incised border detail. On the west face of the plinth is an inset marble tablet with an inscription in black metal lettering that reads:

ERECTED BY THE PARISHIONERS IN PROUD / AND UNDYING MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO / GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN / THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 / (NAMES) / “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.”

The inscription records the three men of the parish who died during the First World War.

There is an additional marble tablet to the south face of the plinth with the inscription:

ALSO IN HONOURED AND GRATEFUL / MEMORY OF THOSE WHO RETURNED / IN SAFETY.

The inscription lists the names of the 18 men of the parish who served and returned, as well as Beatrice Matthews, a Red Cross nurse.

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

One such memorial was raised at the Chuch of St Michael in Michaelstow. It was funded by parishioners and erected in about 1919.

Reasons for Listing


Michaelstow War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* For its accomplished and well-realised design in the form of a Celtic-style wheel cross;
* It survives unaltered in its original location.

Historic interest:

* As an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War;
* For its recognition of the contribution made by a British Red Cross nurse during the First World War.

Group value:
* For its relationship with the Grade I Church of St Michael, and the several designated assets within the churchyard.

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.