Summary
First World War Memorial, erected c1920, with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War Memorial, erected c1920, with Second World War additions.
MATERIALS: of rock-faced granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in the churchyard to the Church of St Peter (listed Grade I), c3.6m to the north-west of church's north porch. It comprises a rock-faced Celtic wheel-head cross embellished with a relief carving of the Sword of Sacrifice on its principal north face. It stands on a trapezoidal plinth which is located on a single-step stone base. Following the Second World War a small granite tablet was placed at the foot of the memorial to commemorate the local men who died in that conflict.
The First World War dedication is in leaded lettering on a dressed surface of the plinth's north face and reads: 'IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE/ FROM THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES FOR THEIR GOD AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 18/ (NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE’. The Second World dedication is on a separate rectangular-shaped tablet at the foot of the plinth and reads ‘1939 – 45/ [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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised in around 1920 in the churchyard to the Church of St Peter (listed Grade I), Strumpshaw, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 15 local servicemen.
Following the Second World War a rectangular-shaped tablet with the names of four local servicemen who died in that conflict was placed at the foot of the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Strumpshaw War Memorial, erected around 1920, with Second World War additions, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the form of a Celtic wheel-head cross atop a trapezoidal plinth.
Group value:
* with the neighbouring Church of St Peter (listed Grade I).
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
Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
For the Record
Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5