Summary
First World War memorial cross with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The tall stone war memorial cross stands in front of the south wall of the tower of the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed). It is in close proximity to numerous Grade II-listed buildings and churchyard monuments. The memorial takes the form of a stone wheel-head cross fleury rising from the collar of a slender cross shaft, octagonal in section. A shield is carved on the front face of the collar, bearing the monogram IHS. The cross shaft stands on a small shouldered pedestal, square on plan, that stands on a two-step octagonal plinth. Slate panels are inset into the sides of the pedestal.
The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO WENT OUT FROM/ THIS PARISH/ AND LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES FOR US. Commemorated names are listed on one side of the pedestal under the dates 1914 – 1918, whilst the three Second World War names are listed on another side under the dates 1939 – 1945.
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 Tilney All Saints as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 13 members of the local community who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of three men who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Tilney All Saints War Memorial Cross, 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.
Group value:
* with the Church of All Saints (Grade I), numerous Grade II-listed churchyard monuments, and nearby Grade II-listed buildings including All Saints House and the Barn abutting All Saints House.
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
ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)