Summary
A First World War memorial, thought to date from the 1920s, altered after the Second World War.
Description
A First World War memorial, thought to date from the 1920s, altered after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: timber and granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a Cavalry Crucifix, with a carved figure of Christ on the cross under a pointed timber canopy. This stands on a square stone plinth, which has bronze plaques in three of its faces.
The plaque to the front bears the inscription 1914 - 1918/ "GREATER LOVE/ HATH NO MAN/ THAN THIS"/ (NAMES). The plinth sits atop a three-stepped base. At the front, a stone tablet has been added which reads 1939 - 1945 WAR/ (NAMES).
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of war 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. This meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at St Blazey, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial was erected adjacent to the Church of St Blaize. It was altered after the Second World War, when a tablet bearing the names of the fallen of that conflict was added.
Reasons for Listing
St Blazey War Memorial 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:
* the memorial is a dignified and sombre monument in the form of a Cavalry Crucifix, well-carved and with good proportions.
* Group value: it has strong group value with the Grade II* listed Church of St Blaize.
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
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
[(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)