Summary
A First World War memorial, erected probably in the 1920s.
Description
A First World War memorial, erected probably in the 1920s.
DESCRIPTION
The memorial takes the form of a stone, capped Latin cross with tapering octagonal shaft on which is a relief carving of the sword of sacrifice. It stands on a substantial two-tier octagonal plinth with a large square base, which is set flush with the ground. The main inscription is on the front face of the plinth and reads: LEST WE FORGET/ (4 NAMES)/ MAY THEY REST IN PEACE/.
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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Pencombe as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by four members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was built to the Cross of Sacrifice design which was devised in 1919 by Sir Reginald Blomfield (1856-1942) for war cemeteries abroad, although it was also widely adopted in Britain. It is not known exactly when the war memorial was erected, but it is marked on the Ordnance Survey map of 1926.
Reasons for Listing
Pencombe 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 this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a well-executed Latin cross with a sword of sacrifice, loosely derived from the architect Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘Cross of Sacrifice’ for the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission.
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
Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)