Summary
First World War memorial with Second World War addition.
Description
First World War memorial with Second World War addition.
DESCRIPTION: Beighton War Memorial is located just outside the entrance to the churchyard of the Grade I-listed Church of All Saints, Beighton.
It takes the form of a stone wheel-head cross with Celtic knot work designs carved in relief to the north-west face of the cross-head and wheel. It has a square shaft with moulded foot, which carries the dedication, TO THE GLORY OF GOD, on the north-west face. The shaft rises from a four-sided, chamfered plinth surmounting a three-stepped, stone base; the upper-step is square with chamfered corners which have semi-circular projections from the chamfered face, while the remaining two steps are octagonal. The whole stands on a square concrete foundation.
The principal inscription is to a stone plaque on the north-west face of the plinth; the plaque is gabled with a ball finial. The inscription reads, AND/ IN UNDYING HONOUR OF/ BEIGHTON MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (8 NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.
A further dedication is inscribed to the south-west face, which reads ALSO IN MEMORY OF/ (NAME)/ WHO FELL IN THE 1939 - 45 WAR.
All lettering is incised, painted black.
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 Beighton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the eight members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was probably erected not long after the end of the conflict.
Following the Second World War a dedication was added to the memorial for the single casualty from that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Beighton War Memorial, which is situated outside All Saints 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 well-executed wheel-head cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade I-listed Church of All Saints, Beighton.
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
Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings