Summary
First World War memorial cross with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The stone war memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of Holy Trinity (Grade I-listed), to the south side of the church tower. It comprises a Maltese cross on the collar of a tall cross shaft, octagonal in section, which stands on a small pedestal, square on plan. The pedestal stands on a four-stepped, octagonal, base. The lowest step is concrete.
The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ THE GIVER OF VICTORY/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ THE PARISH OF INGHAM/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THIS COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919/ (6 NAMES)/ ALSO IN HONOUR OF ALL THOSE WHO/ SERVED IN THE FORCES BY LAND & SEA. The later Second World War dedication is inscribed on the foot of the pedestal, reading 1939 – 1945/ (NAME). The inscriptions are incised and painted.
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 Ingham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by six members of the local community who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the name of one man who died in that conflict was added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Ingham 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 Holy Trinity (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
Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
England's Post-War Listed Buildings