Summary
A First World War memorial of around 1920, altered following the Second World War and the Bosnian conflict of the 1990s.
Description
A First World War memorial of around 1920, altered following the Second World War and the Bosnian conflict of the 1990s.
MATERIALS: the memorial is constructed of granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located in the churchyard of St Michael's Church. It is situated adjacent to the path near the entrance to the church, and consists of a rough-hewn wheel head cross with a downturned sword of sacrifice in relief on the front of a cross. It stands on a round-topped plinth with a two-stepped base. The plinth bears the inscriptions in leaded lettering.
The inscription reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ (NAMES)/ 1939 - 1945.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of war 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. This meant that the memorials provided the main focus for the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Sutton, 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 war memorial is thought to have been erected in around 1920. It commemorates four local servicemen who fell in the First World War, and was later altered to commemorate losses in the Second World War. A small memorial has been added to commemorate the service of John Phillips in Bosnia.
Reasons for Listing
Sutton 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 of the local community of the events of the First World War.
Group value:
* with the Grade II* listed Church of St Michael.
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
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey