Summary

A First World War memorial, constructed in 1920, designed by Alec Miller (1879-1961); altered after the Second World War.

Description

A First World War memorial, constructed in 1920, designed by Alec Miller (1879-1961); altered after the Second World War.

MATERIALS
Local limestone.

DESCRIPTION
The memorial takes the form of a hooded Calvary, set on a sturdy octagonal column, on a square plinth and wider square base, each with shaped corners; on a single-stepped octagonal platform. The plinth is inscribed in a Serif font: IN PERPETUAL MEMORY/ OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES AT THE/ CALL OF DUTY IN/ THE WAR FOR GOD/ KING AND COUNTRY/ 1914 - 1918/ (NAMES)/ LOOK FOR THE/ RESURRECTION OF/ THE DEAD AND THE/ LIFE OF THE/ WORLD TO COME/ ALSO/ 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 750,000 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 Saintbury, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was set up in a prominent position outside the hilltop Church of St Nicholas (listed Grade I). The memorial is understood to have been designed by Alec Miller (1879-1961). An Arts and Crafts designer, Miller trained as a woodcarver in Glasgow, later joining C R Ashbee’s Guild of Handicraft in 1902, just as it was moving from London to Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire. He stayed in Campden after the failure of the Guild, widening his activities to include carving, sculpting and other elements of design and craftsmanship, in particular portrait sculpture. Miller emigrated to California in 1939.

After the Second World War, the names of a serviceman of the parish who died in that conflict was added to the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Saintbury War Memorial, constructed in 1920 and designed by Alec Miller, 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:
* For its design, a well-executed stone calvary, by a recognised Arts and Crafts designer.

Group value:
* With the Grade I-listed Church of St Nicholas, in whose churchyard it stands, forming part of a commemorative landscape.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478963

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

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)