Summary
First World War memorial cross, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The limestone memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed). It comprises a bottonée cross-head on a tall, octagonal, shaft. The cross shaft rises from a pedestal, octagonal on plan, that stands on a four-stepped base. The uppermost step is square on plan, whilst the three below are octagonal (squares with chamfered corners).
The pedestal bears the inscriptions in incised and painted lettering. The principal dedication to the front face of the pedestal reads IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF/ THIS PARISH/ WHO LAID/ DOWN THEIR/ LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918. The commemorated names are listed on the other faces, and include each person’s regiment.
A small rectangular plaque is placed on the second step of the base, with an inscription reading 1939 – 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 North Runcton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 15 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was in place by 1928, at which date it appears on the Ordnance Survey County Series map for the locality. The names of three men who died in the Second World War were added to the memorial after that conflict. The memorial was renovated and re-dedicated in 2014.
Reasons for Listing
North Runcton War Memorial, 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:
* a tall and elegant war memorial cross in limestone.
Group value:
* with the Church of All Saints (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
London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Period Property Manual (New Ed)
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)