Summary
First World War memorial, built in around 1920.
Description
First World War memorial, built in around 1920.
MATERIALS: sandstone; Portland stone
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on the churchyard wall of the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary, beside a path leading to the church. It comprises a moulded sandstone surround with stepped and pedimented coping, and a moulded cornice with a central relief-carved laurel wreath below. The surround frames an incised Portland stone tablet mounted on a slate panel. The memorial is on a moulded base with flanking supports.
The inscription is in incised lettering and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD & IN IMPERISHABLE MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1919/ followed by the 18 names of those who fell. At the bottom of the tablet is incised R.I.P. / THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.
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 Bitteswell, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 18 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Bitteswell War Memorial was erected on the boundary wall of the Church of St Mary facing Lutterworth Road, in around 1920. The memorial was relocated on the boundary wall to The Nook at an unknown date.
Reasons for Listing
Bitteswell War Memorial, which is set into St Mary’s Churchyard boundary wall, is listed 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:
* as a simple but well-executed and good quality sandstone, slate, and Portland stone memorial;
Group Value
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary.
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
Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)