Summary
A First World War memorial erected after 1918; altered after the Second World War.
Description
A First World War memorial erected after the First World War; altered after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in a prominent roadside location on Peterstow Common.
The memorial comprises a roughly-hewn granite Latin cross with a tapering shaft on a small square pedestal and a rough stone base.
The main inscription is in leaded lettering within a recessed panel on the front (north-east) face of the shaft of the cross, and reads: FOR / GOD, KING / AND COUNTRY / 1914–1918 followed by the names of the seven men who fell. The front face of the square plinth is incised in black-painted lettering PETERSTOW.
A small rectangular granite plaque at the foot of the shaft of the cross bears an additional inscription 1939–1945 and the name of the one man who fell.
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 750,000 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 Peterstow, 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 war memorial appears on Ordnance Survey maps from 1928 onwards.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the one man who fell in that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Peterstow War Memorial is listed at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* for its reflection of the rural character of the area through its craftsmanship.
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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