Summary
First World War memorial granite cross.
Description
The war memorial cross is located in the churchyard, in front of the tower of the Church of St Andrew (Grade I-listed). It comprises an approximately 2m tall polished grey granite wheel-head cross on a tapering plinth. The plinth stands on a single block of grey granite, beneath which is a base of stone and brick. The plinth bears the inscriptions in incised lettering.
The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL/ DURING THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS. The commemorated names are recorded to either side of the plinth.
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 outside the parish church at North Burlingham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by ten members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. A plaque inside the church commemorates three men who died in the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
North Burlingham 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 First World War.
Architectural interest:
* a simple yet poignant wheel-head cross, the polished grey granite is a strong visual contrast with the flint walling of the church tower behind;
* unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Andrew (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
Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)