Summary
First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The memorial stands inside the main entrance to the churchyard, close to the Church of St Andrew (Grade II). It comprises a wheel-head cross on a column, rectangular on plan, raised on a three-stepped square base. It is carved from pale grey granite and stands approximately 2.1m high.
The main inscription, running around the front face of the wheel of the cross head, reads FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ AUG 4 1914 JUNE 28 1919. The commemorated First World War names are listed on the front face of the column. A further inscription on the south face of the column reads 3 SEPT 1939/ TO/ 2 SEPT 1945/ (3 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 Great Finborough as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 12 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on Saturday 31 January 1920. The names of three parishioners who died during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Great Finborough War Memorial Cross, 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:
* an unusual wheel-head cross in granite.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Andrew (Grade II-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
Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Care and Repair
[(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)