Summary
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: sandstone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands on a tarmac area in Eastwood Park in Calow, Derbyshire. It consists of a wheel-headed Celtic cross with knot work design on the arms of the cross rising from a tapering square plinth. The plinth is set upon a single stepped base. There are two bronze plaques on the memorial. The First World War dedication plaque is located on the front face of the plinth and reads IN MEMORY OF THOSE FALLEN FROM THIS PARISH/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ “GRANT THEM O LORD ETERNAL REST”.
Another plaque is located at the base of the shaft and is inscribed IN MEMORY/ OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (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 Calow as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
In April 1919 three acres of land at Top Road were donated to Calow by Alderman Eastwood to provide a recreation ground for the community in commemoration of the 25 local servicemen who lost their lives in the First World War. Eastwood purchased the land at a cost of £250. By April 1921 plans were underway to provide a standing stone memorial within the recreation ground.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 10 fallen of that conflict. The original plaques were stolen between 1989 and 1992 but have since been replaced.
The memorial was conserved in 2008 with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
Reasons for Listing
Calow War Memorial, which stands in Eastwood Park in Calow, 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 sandstone wheel-head cross bearing carved decorative details.
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.
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