Summary
War memorial. Erected, following the First World War, in around 1920. A further inscription was added after the Second World War.
Description
War memorial. Erected, following the First World War, in around 1920. A further inscription was added after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: carved from limestone.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is situated in the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret. It comprises a Celtic cross on a tapering shaft with a trapezoidal plinth and square base. The monument stands approximately 2.4m high. The front (south) face of the plinth is inscribed in incised lettering TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ (NAMES). A further inscription was added to the base after the Second World War 1939-1945/ (NAME).
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 Southolt in the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret (Grade II*-listed, List entry no 1288635). It serves as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by seven members of the local community who lost their lives during the First World War. The name of one parishioner who died during the Second World War was subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Southolt War Memorial, built in about 1920 in the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as a poignant reminder of the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made during the First and Second World Wars.
Group value:
* with the Grade II* -listed former Church of St Margaret.
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
Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)