Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands outside the churchyard to the north of the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*) and close to Centre House, Stuart House and The Church House (Grade II).

The memorial comprises a plain wheel-head cross on a tall pedestal with a single-stepped base. It is carved from grey granite and stands approximately 3.3m high. The main inscription in raised lettering on a bronze panel on the south face of the pedestal reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN/ HONOURED MEMORY OF THE MEN/ CONNECTED WITH THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918./ (24 NAMES). A further bronze panel beneath the main inscription bears two further names.

An additional inscription in raised leaded lettering on the base of the memorial reads 1939 1945/ (5 NAMES).

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 Peasenhall as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 26 June 1921 by Lieutenant-Colonel FW Turner.

The names of those parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Peasenhall War Memorial, which stands just outside the churchyard to the north of the Church of St Michael and All Angels, 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 but elegant granite wheel-head cross.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*) and Centre House, Stuart House and The Church House (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479861

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

• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
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  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
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  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
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  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
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  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)