Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Portland stone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in a prominent position on the eastern boundary of the cemetery, approximately 60m south-east of the Church of St Peter (Grade I), and a short distance from 1–3 Church Cottages (Grade II) and 4 Church Cottages (Grade II).
The memorial comprises an equal-armed cross on a tapering octagonal column with an elaborately carved square plinth and three-stepped base. The memorial is carved from Portland stone and stands approximately 3.65m high.
The main inscription in incised and black-painted lettering on the east face of the plinth reads: IN/ THANKSGIVING TO GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THOSE/ GALLANT SAILORS/ AND SOLDIERS/ FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR./ 1914 – 1918. The names of those who gave their lives during the First World War are inscribed on the three other faces of the plinth.
An additional 15 names are inscribed on three sides on the foot of the plinth under the date: 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES).
Another inscription on the foot of the plinth 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 Wenhaston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by Arthur G Walker RA and unveiled on Sunday 14 November 1920 by Colonel G L Bence-Lambert CMG.
In 2015, 15 extra names were added to the memorial to commemorate men who died in the First World War but for various reasons were not already on the memorial. There are currently 37 names.
The names of those parishioners who fell during the Second World War were added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Wenhaston War Memorial, which stands in a prominent position on the eastern boundary of Wenhaston Cemetery, 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 an elegant and well-executed Portland stone cross.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Peter (Grade I), 1–3 Church Cottages (Grade II) and 4 Church Cottages (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
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)