Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 29 May 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
DESCRIPTION: East Cowton War Memorial is located to the north of the Parish Church of All Saints (Grade II-listed).
It is of rough-hewn stone and takes the form of a wheel-head cross rising from a tapering, square plinth, which surmounts a single-step base.
The south-east face of the cross-head has a smooth stone panel in the shape of a wheel-head cross with an interlaced Celtic knot work design incised to the centre. Directly below to the lower half of the shaft is another smooth panel with the inscription, TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN HONOURED/ MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN OF/ THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The names of the seven servicemen who died are recorded on a panel to the south-east face of the plinth. All the above inscriptions and names are in raised, leaded lettering.
A wedge-shaped tablet of polished stone has been set in front of the memorial plinth to the south-east face and carries the Second World War dedication. Incised to the upper surface are the dates, 1939 – 1945, followed by the names of the two servicemen who died.
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 East Cowton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the seven members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was dedicated on 29 May 1921 and was unveiled by Sir Hugh Bell, the Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding. The funds for the memorial were raised via public subscription.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the two casualties from that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
East Cowton War Memorial, which is situated outside the Church of All Saints, 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 well-executed wheel-head cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II-listed Parish Church of All Saints.
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: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey