Summary
A First World War memorial unveiled in 1920, altered following the Second World War.
Description
A First World War memorial unveiled in 1920, altered following the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Granite
DESCRIPTION: The memorial is a 2.4m high Celtic cross. The cross has a circular boss to its centre. Its arms are decorated with knotwork in carved relief. The cross is supported by a tapered shaft on a plinth of two stages. The plinth sits on a square base, below which is a square platform of flint rubble.
The main inscription on the south face reads:
(on cross shaft) IN/ LOVING/ MEMORY/ OF/
(on the upper stage of the plinth) (15 NAMES)/
(on the lower stage of the plinth) WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918
An additional inscription on the west face reads:
(on cross shaft) IN/ LOVING/ MEMORY/ OF/
(on the upper stage of the plinth) (7 NAMES)/
(on the lower stage of the plinth) WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939–1945
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 Palgrave as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 15 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The names of the seven parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
The cross is located in a prominent position south of the Grade I listed Church of St Peter, between the porch and tower. It is in sight of the main gate in the churchyard wall to Lion Road. The memorial cross was supplied by Messrs Maile and Son of London and the flint base was built by Mr Ruffels of Palgrave. The memorial was unveiled on 21 March 1920 by Lieutenant Walter Clarke and dedicated by the Reverend E Lloyd Savory, Rector of Palgrave. The total cost of the memorial was around £130 which was raised by public subscription.
Reasons for Listing
Palgrave War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural Interest:
* as a good example of a carved Celtic cross.
Historic Interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Peter (Grade I), the K6 telephone kiosk and other churchyard memorials (all Grade II).
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
This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings