Summary
A First World War memorial, built in 1921; with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
A First World War memorial, built in 1921; with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS
Granite.
DESCRIPTION
The memorial takes the form of a granite obelisk with a moulded foot, on a high, square-section pedestal with arcades, an arch on each side. The pedestal is inscribed in black lettering “LEST WE FORGET”/ THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED/ IN THE LASTING MEMORY OF/ THE GALLANT MEN OF THIS/ BOROUGH WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES FOR THEIR KING AND/ COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918, with the names of the 36 men who lost their lives. Below this is a slightly wider section, inscribed AND TO THOSE WHO FELL IN/ THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945 and the names of the 21 men who died in that conflict. The whole stands on a narrow platform of three roughly-hewn granite steps.
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 750,000 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 Lostwithiel, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
In 1919, Lostwithiel Borough Council and the Royal British Legion resolved to erect a war memorial. A committee was set up and public subscriptions sought. The memorial was constructed in 1921 by Joseph Nicholls of J Nicholls and Son, local masons, a task made all the more poignant as one of those commemorated was Mr Nicholls' own son. Lostwithiel Council paid a total of £350 for the monument, which was built from granite from quarries in Bodmin and Luxulyan.
The memorial was unveiled on 4 May 1921, by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, during a ceremony attended by the Mayor and local dignitaries; an ecumenical service was taken by three local ministers, from the Anglican, Wesleyan and United Methodist churches. The large crowd in attendance included the families of those who had lost their lives, who were especially invited.
Joseph Nicholls also made an extra block commemorating the local men who died in the Second World War; this was inserted into the memorial in 1946.
Reasons for Listing
Lostwithiel War Memorial erected in 1921, 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 and elegant memorial in the form of a granite obelisk.
Group value:
* with North Street Bridge (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
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
[(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
[(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)