Summary
First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1921.
Description
The Dartmoor granite cross stands in the churchyard to the south of the Church of St Gregory (Grade II*-listed), and close to the churchyard lych gate and gates (Grade II). It takes the form of a plain Latin cross with slightly splayed cross arms, rising from a square plinth. The plinth stands on a two-stage, octagonal, base.
The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO THE HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The commemorated names are recorded on faces of the upper stage of the base.
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 Goodleigh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by eight members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Designed by Mr H Reed of Exeter and supplied by Messrs Bryant and Sons of Barnstaple at a cost of around £85, it was unveiled on 12 March 1921 by Lt-Col BC James DSO.
Reasons for Listing
Goodleigh 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 simple yet poignant war memorial cross in granite;
* 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 Gregory (Grade II*) and the Churchyard Lych Gate and Gates approximately 10 metres south-west of Goodleigh Church (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.
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