Summary
A First World War memorial erected around 1920 as a wheelhead Celtic cross in grey granite.
Description
A First World War memorial erected around 1920.
MATERIALS: grey granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands around two and a half metres tall and comprises a wheelhead cross on a pyramidal base and a slightly tapering plinth. It faces west, towards Cheetham Hill Road.
The cross has knotwork carving to the arms and a central relief of Christ’s head crowned with thorns. The shaft has stopped chamfers and at its base has a relief of a winged Victory vanquishing a serpent. The wheel has lead lettering reading IN/ HOC/ SIGNO/ VINCES (in this sign you will conquer). The sides of the shaft have slightly-recessed panels, and are also stop-chamfered.
The base is dressed smooth apart from the lower border which is rock-faced. An inscription in lead capital lettering reads ERECTED/ TO THE MEMORY/ OF/ THE PARISHIONERS AND OLD SCHOLARS/ OF ST CHAD'S WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ D. SHEAHAN, M. RECTOR
The plinth is rock-faced.
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 around 1920 at St Chad’s as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 95 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
An associated interior plaque with the names of the fallen was broken in the 1970s. In 2014 they were instead added to the separate triptych war memorial in the south aisle of the church.
Reasons for Listing
The St Chad’s Cheetham Hill First World War memorial, a war memorial of around 1920, 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:
* for its good quality design in the form of a wheelhead Celtic cross, enhanced by carved decoration and lead-lettered inscriptions.
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
Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings