Summary

First World War memorial cross, unveiled on 27 June 1920, designed by CE Ponting and sculpted by Messrs Ward and Adkins, Nottingham. Second World War additions.

Description

East Bridgford War Memorial is located in the eastern corner of the churchyard in close proximity to the Grade I-listed Church of St Peter and a group of Grade II-listed headstones.

The war memorial is constructed of Derby gritstone and takes the form of a pointed Latin cross with cusped projections at the angles between the cross-arms. The cross crowns an octagonal shaft with decorative moulded collar and a square foot with inverted chamfer stops. The shaft rises from a square plinth with octagonal cap and curved moulded shoulders. This surmounts a three-stepped base, square on plan..

The east face of the plinth has a cross patée symbol carved in relief above an inset bronze plaque carrying the names of the 22 servicemen who died in the First World War. The names are in raised lettering and are listed under the year each man died. Directly below, to the east face of the base, is the principal inscription in incised lettering, TO THE MEMORY OF THE FALLEN IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. The step below has the following words incised, THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

The west face of the plinth has a further bronze plaque, bearing the Second World War dedication and names. This reads, THIS TABLET WAS ADDED TO THE/ MEMORY OF THE FALLEN IN THE/ SECOND GREAT WAR 1939-45 (5 NAMES). The names are again listed by the year each man died.

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 East Bridgford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 22 members of the local community who died in the First World War. The memorial was designed by the architect CE Ponting and the building work was carried out by Messrs Ward and Adkins, Nottingham. It was unveiled and dedicated on 27 June 1920 by Archdeacon Conybeare. After the Second World War a dedication and the names of five casualties of that conflict were added to the memorial.

CE Ponting FSA (1850-1932) was based in Marlborough, Wiltshire, and was responsible for the design of numerous buildings including parts of Marlborough College, and buildings ranging from the Cottage Hospital and Institute at Almondsbury (Grade II) to elements of the Grade I-listed Eleanor Cross at Cheshunt. As Surveyor for the Archdeaconries of Wiltshire and Dorset he was involved in many re-orderings and restorations at churches in the Dioceses of Salisbury and of Bristol. Prior to the First World War he supervised the restoration at St Peter’s, East Bridgford, which may have resulted in the commission to design the war memorial cross there. His numerous war memorials include those at Amesbury, Wilton, and Marnhull (all Grade II-listed).

Reasons for Listing

East Bridgford 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:

* an elegant war memorial cross in Derby gritstone by the architect CE Ponting FSA.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Peter (Grade I) and the Grade II-listed Group of 3 Headstones 7 metres south of Chancel at Church of St Peter.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479650

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.

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