Stannington War Memorial, Bradfield, Sheffield

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions

Description

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: Rivelin gritstone and red granite tablets.

DESCRIPTION: Stannington War Memorial consists of a wheel-headed Latin cross on a tapering ashlar shaft, with a laurel wreath carved in relief at its base. The cross shaft rises from a square-plan three-stepped base, set within an octagonal feather-edged kerb. A rectangular stone grave vase is situated against the bottom step of the base. Four red granite tablets, bearing incised inscriptions picked out in gilt, are fixed to the upper pair of steps. The tablet on the west face of the top step reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN EVERLASTING MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES. 1939 – 1945./ STANNINGTON. LOXLEY./ (14 names) and has a granite apron on the upper surface of the middle step. The tablet on the west face of the middle step bears the inscription: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN EVER GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE FOLLOWING MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR,/ 1914 – 1919./ SEE TO IT THAT NONE OF THESE/ SHALL HAVE DIED IN VAIN. The tablets on the north and south faces of the middle step record the 69 names of the Fallen from the First World War.

The memorial is situated within a roughly D-plan enclosure of coursed quarry-faced stone walls with ridged quarry-faced coping stones to the rear and sides, and ashlar saddle-back coping stones to the front; the latter also has a decorative cast-iron railing and a central, splayed opening with a suspended chain, reached by stone steps. A modern white painted flag pole is situated to the rear.

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 Stannington as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 69 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Stannington War Memorial was paid for by subscription and was unveiled on 29 October 1921, by Lieutenant-Colonel F Revell-Sutton, who had donated the land upon which it stands. The ceremony was preceded by the ex-servicemen of the district, under the direction of ex-sergeant A Nichols, marching from Knowle Top to the memorial, accompanied by the Fulwood Brass Band. A large crowd gathered for the ceremony, including many of whom were relatives of the fallen, together with a number of clergy and various dignitaries. The dedication was undertaken by the Bishop of Sheffield, who having just returned from Belgium, reassured the grieving families that their relatives’ graves were beautifully kept, and better than some of the churchyards and cemeteries in their own land. Following the Second World War, the 14 names of the fallen from that conflict were also added to the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Stannington War Memorial, erected 1921, 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:

* a well-executed and dignified memorial in the form of a wheel-head cross, employing good quality design, craftsmanship and materials.

External Links

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