Latitude: 51.9765 / 51°58'35"N
Longitude: -2.757 / 2°45'25"W
OS Eastings: 348100
OS Northings: 231161
OS Grid: SO481311
Mapcode National: GBR FJ.KNRF
Mapcode Global: VH861.5LB5
Plus Code: 9C3VX6GV+H6
Entry Name: Much Dewchurch War Memorial
Listing Date: 18 January 2019
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1462128
ID on this website: 101462128
Location: Much Dewchurch, County of Herefordshire, HR2
County: County of Herefordshire
Civil Parish: Much Dewchurch
Traditional County: Herefordshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Herefordshire
Tagged with: War memorial
A First World War memorial dating from around 1920, altered following the Second World War.
A First World War memorial dating from around 1920, altered following the Second World War.
MATERIALS: stone.
DESCRIPTION: The memorial stands in a prominent roadside location at the centre of the village.
The memorial comprises a plain Latin cross with a square pedestal and three-stepped square base. It is carved from pale grey granite.
The main inscription in leaded lettering on the east face of the plinth reads THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED BY THE/ PARISHIONERS TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM/ THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”.
An additional inscription on the north face of the plinth reads AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE/ OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).
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 Much Dewchurch 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 memorial was altered following the Second World War, to commemorate those lost in that conflict.
Much Dewchurch War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* the memorial is a dignified and sombre stone cross, neatly made and well-proportioned.
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact on the local community of the conflicts of the C20.
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