Summary
A First World War memorial, unveiled in 1921 and added to following the Second World War.
Description
A First World War memorial, unveiled in 1921 and added to following the Second World War.
MATERIALS: a stone memorial cross with lead lettering.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial consists of a three-stepped base topped by a tapering square plinth. Above is a rough-hewn shaft and wheel cross. A dedication picked out in raised lettering is located on the front (north) face of the plinth and reads 'TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918'. The names of the Fallen are on either side of the plinth. A dedication to the Fallen of the Second World War and their names has been added to the north face of the base's top tier.
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 at Mendham in Suffolk as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Mendham War Memorial was built by Mr HL Perfitt in the churchyard of the Church of All Saints (Grade I). It was unveiled by Mrs Sancroft Holmes at a ceremony held in July 1921. The memorial does not appear on the post-war series of Ordnance Survey maps; however, a report of the unveiling was made in the East Anglian Daily Times in 1921. The memorial commemorates 14 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the four Fallen of that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Mendham War Memorial, situated in the churchyard of the Church of All Saints, 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:
* it utilises good-quality stone in its sombre design;
Group value:
* with the Church of All Saints (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
Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
Old House Care and Repair