Summary
First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920.
Description
The Portland stone memorial, about 3.3m tall, stands in a prominent position at the intersection of two paths in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I). It comprises a Celtic cross with carved interlace patterns decorating the wheel-head. The cross head rises from a tapering cross shaft, standing on a tapering plinth and single-stepped base.
The main inscription in incised and painted lettering, recorded on an inset panel in the front face of the cross shaft, reads IN/ PROUD/ AND/ LOVING/ MEMORY/ OF/ THE/ MEN/ FROM/ THIS/ VILLAGE/ WHO/ GAVE/ THEIR/ LIVES/ IN/ THE/ GREAT/ WAR/ 1914–1918. Fourteen names are recorded on the front face of the plinth, with below on the base GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.
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 Bedingfield as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 14 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was built by Mr EE Saunders of Ipswich, who erected many war memorials in Suffolk including examples listed at Grade II. It was unveiled in March 1920.
Reasons for Listing
Bedingfield 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 First World War.
Architectural interest:
* a richly ornamented wheel-head cross, in the Celtic style;
* unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Mary (Grade I).
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
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
For the Record
England's Post-War Listed Buildings
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)