Summary
First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The memorial stands in the churchyard, to the south side of the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed). It comprises a grey granite wheel-head cross with a slightly tapering shaft on a two-stepped plinth, set on a square base. The face of the cross is decorated with panels of interlace patterns carved in low relief.
The main inscription in applied metal lettering on the west face of the memorial reads (on cross shaft) ERECTED/ BY THE/ PARISH OF/ FROSTENDEN/ TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN MEMORY OF/ (on plinth) THE FOLLOWING MEN, WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR./ 1914–1919/ (9 NAMES). An additional inscription to the south face of the plinth reads AND FOR THESE WHO DIED FOR US/ 1939–1945./ (16 NAMES).
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 Frostenden as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by nine members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was unveiled on Sunday 18 January 1920. The memorial cost £54 15s 9d. The names of 16 parishioners who died during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial and unveiled on 7 November 1948 by Colonel Sir Robert Gooch.
Reasons for Listing
Frostenden 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 simple yet poignant memorial wheel-cross with carved interlace patterns, in the Celtic style.
Group value:
* with the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed).
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
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
[(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)