Summary
A First World War memorial, built in 1920; with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The memorial consists of a stone wheel-headed cross which rises from a chamfered plinth on a two-stepped square platform. The black painted, raised stone inscriptions, which are on the north and east faces of the plinth, are in recessed panels. The inscription on the north face reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR./ 1914-1918; ESPECIALLY/ THOSE FROM THIS PARISH./ (7 NAMES). The east face bears the inscription AND IN THE WAR/ 1939-45./ (1 NAME).
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 Walton, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The war memorial in Walton was constructed in 1920. It was dedicated and unveiled by Lady Mordaunt in a ceremony on 14 March 1920; the vicar said prayers, and ex-Private Hobday sounded the Last Post.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate one serviceman who died in that conflict. In 2016, the memorial was conserved with grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
Reasons for Listing
Walton War Memorial 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:
* for its design, a well-executed stone memorial.
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
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)