History in Structure

Much Dewchurch War Memorial

A Grade II Listed Building in Much Dewchurch, County of Herefordshire

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Coordinates

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

Summary


A First World War memorial dating from around 1920, altered following the Second World War.

Description


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).

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 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.

Reasons for Listing


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.

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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