Summary
First World War memorial cross, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
MATERIALS: stone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in a small enclosure on the south side of Main Street, about 75m east of the Church of St Andrew and close to The George Inn (both Grade II*-listed). It comprises a short wheel-head cross rising from a tapered pedestal, square on plan, which stands on a single step. The pedestal is rough-hewn on three sides but dressed to the front.
INSCRIPTION: the pedestal bears inscriptions on the front face. The principal dedicatory inscription reads: IN MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF CHARDSTOCK/ WHO IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919 FACED DEATH/ IN THE CAUSE OF GOD AND THE RIGHT./ BELOW ARE INSCRIBED THE NAMES OF THE FALLEN/ (18 NAMES)/ 1939 – 1945/ (10 NAMES).
A small metal flagpole is fixed by brackets into a socket in the rear face of the pedestal. The cross stands on a concrete surface whilst the surrounding embanked planting beds are retained by a rubble wall. The memorial enclosure is fronted by a rubble wall and centrally-placed wooden gate.
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, 25 September 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 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 Chardstock as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. In place by June 1921, it commemorates 18 servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of 10 men who died in that conflict were added.
Reasons for Listing
Chardstock War Memorial, which stands on Main Street, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* As an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* A simple yet poignant wheel-head cross.
Group value: with The George Public House including Outbuilding adjoining north east, and The Church of St Andrew (both Grade II*) and Rose Cottage (Grade II).
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
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)