Summary

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The memorial takes the form of a Celtic cross, located in the churchyard of the Church of St Peter (Grade II*) and in close proximity to churchyard structures listed at Grade II. The sandstone cross is about 4m tall. A three-stepped square base supports a square plinth. Rising from the plinth is a plain tapering cross shaft which is surmounted by the wheel-head cross. Both front and rear faces of the cross head are ornamented with a Celtic interlace pattern carved in low relief.

The principal dedicatory inscription incised into the east face of the memorial’s plinth reads ERECTED BY THE PARISHIONERS OF/ WAVERTON AND HATTON IN/ GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THESE MEN/ WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ 1914 + 1919/ (13 NAMES). The later inscription to the west face of the plinth reads ALSO/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THESE MEN/ WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ 1939 + 1945/ (2 NAMES).

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, 27 February 2018.

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 Waverton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 13 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on 31 May 1920 by the Bishop of Chester. It had cost £110, raised by nearly 200 subscribers to the memorial fund. Following the Second World War the names of two men who died in that conflict were added to the memorial dedication.

Reasons for Listing

Waverton War Memorial, which stands in the 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:

* a tall and imposing war memorial cross decorated with carved interlace patterns, in the Celtic style.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Peter (Grade II*) and the sundial in the churchyard and churchyard walls, gate piers and gates (all Grade II-listed).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479185

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

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living