Summary
First World War memorial granite cross, erected 1921.
Description
The granite war memorial stands in the road junction at Eggesford Fourways. It takes the form of a plain Latin cross, standings on a three-stage base. The uppermost stage carries the inscription 1914 – 1919, incised into the front face. The principal dedication (heavily weathered at the time of writing, 2017) to the front face of the middle stage, reads IN PROUD AND HONOURED MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR GOD, KING AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR (line breaks unknown), below which the commemorated names are listed. The memorial is enclosed by rails and a low kerb.
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 Eggesford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 10 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. A further 24 men also served but had returned from the conflict. The memorial was under construction in October 1921.
Reasons for Listing
Eggesford War Memorial, which stands at Eggesford Fourways, 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 simple yet poignant granite memorial cross;
* Unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.
External Links
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Recommended Books
Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings