Summary
First World War memorial, 1920.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920.
MATERIALS: Clipsham stone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in the churchyard, close to the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade II*).
The memorial comprises a plain Latin cross with a tapering octagonal shaft on a square plinth with a two-stepped octagonal base. It is carved from Clipsham stone and stands approximately 3.3m high.
The main inscription in incised lettering on the south face reads: (on plinth) TO/ THE GLORIOUS MEMORY/ OF/ BRIGHTWELL & FOXHALL/ MEN/ 1914–1918/ (on upper step of base) FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH/ (on lower step of base) GRANT THEM ETERNAL REST O LORD.
The names and regiments of the seven fallen are listed on the sides of the plinth, four on the east face and three on the west.
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 Brightwell as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the parishes of Brightwell and Foxhall who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial was unveiled on 18 October 1920 by Captain G A Tomlin MC.
Reasons for Listing
Brightwell and Foxall War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Baptist, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as a simple yet evocative example of a plain Latin cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade II*).
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
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)