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.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on an area of green with a hedged backdrop outside St Peter's churchyard on the High Street. It comprises a limestone latin cross on an octagonal plinth and three-stepped octagonal base. The inscription on the front face of the plinth, in black painted incised lettering, reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN/ OF THIS VILLAGE/ WHO LAID DOWN/ THEIR LIVES/ FOR THE EMPIRE/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. On the other plinth faces are the names of those who fell.
Recorded below the dedication on the upper step of the base, an inscription reads FAITHFUL/ IN/ DUTY and on the left face it reads NOBLE/ IN/ LIFE, and on the right face GLORIOUS/ IN/ DEATH.
A further inscription to those who fell in the Second World War is recorded below on the middle step of the base and it reads: 1939 – 1945 followed underneath by the 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 Shipton Bellinger 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 names of those who died in the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Shipton Bellinger War Memorial, which stands on the High Street outside the churchyard of the Church of St Peter, 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 well-executed limestone cross.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Peter (Grade II) and the roadside boundary wall to the churchyard (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
Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)