Summary
First World War memorial, built 1920; altered after the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, built 1920; altered after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands on a grass bank at the edge of the churchyard connected to the Grade I-listed Parish Church of St Uda, facing the village square, with granite steps up to it from the road. The memorial is a wheel-head Celtic cross with carved ‘triqueta’ knotwork to the head on the front and back. It stands on a tapering shaft above a stepped and tapering plinth and a two-stepped base. The platform has a short granite post at each corner. The principal face (north east) of the plinth has inscribed in lead lettering: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF / THE MEN OF ST TUDY / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918 / “THE DEAD SHALL HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD”. Below this, on the top step of the base, is inscribed “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, / THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS” / “YE THAT LIVE ON ‘MID ENGLISH PASTURES GREEN, / REMEMBER US AND THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN”. The names of the fallen are inscribed on the principal face of the memorial’s shaft. The names of those who fell in the Second World War are inscribed on the bottom step of the base under the dates 1935 – 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 750,000 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 St Tudy, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 13 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The war memorial was funded by public subscription and was erected in January 1920. It was dedicated on Sunday 25 January 1920 by the Bishop of Truro, Reverend Dr Guy Warman. The granite was probably quarried from nearby De Lank.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the five men who fell in that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
St Tudy 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 Celtic wheel-head cross in local materials.
Group value:
* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Uda, and the many Grade II-listed buildings in the vicinity.
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
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)