Eccleshall Memorial Cross

Summary

First World War Memorial, dedicated in 1921, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Eccleshall Memorial Cross, dedicated in 1921, with Second World War additions, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: it is a poignant reminder of the impact of tragic world events upon an individual community and, thus, has strong cultural and historical significance within both a local and national context;
* Architectural interest: as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the simple form of the Celtic, wheel-head cross;
* Group value: with the Church of the Holy Trinity (Grade I), along with the churchyard wall to Church Street and the lychgate and turnstile to the churchyard (all Grade II).

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. One such memorial was erected in the churchyard of the Holy Trinity Church in Eccleshall to commemorate the men of the parish who died during this conflict. The memorial was unveiled on 26 September 1921 by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, William Legge, the 6th Earl of Dartmouth, and dedicated by the Right Reverend John Kempthorne, the Bishop of Lichfield. It was built by Mr C W Benton at a cost of £269. The memorial also commemorates Annie E Allen, the daughter of William Allen, vicar of Eccleshall, who died in 1919 whist working on Voluntary Aid Detachment at the military convalescent hospital at nearby Sandon Hall. Following the Second World War a second dedicatory inscription was added to commemorate the 21 men of the parish who died during the course of this conflict. At the time of unveiling, the memorial's plinth was inscribed with the names of 44 men who had died during the First World War and Annie E Allen. In 2001, the name of a further soldier who died during the Great War was added to the base of the memorial.

Details

First World War Memorial, dedicated in 1921, with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: the whole structure is constructed from sandstone.

PLAN: it is square on plan.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial, which faces south, takes the form of a Celtic, wheel-head cross which is set upon a tall shaft which is tapered and chamfered. The shaft flares out at its base to join with a square pedestal. It stands upon a tall, square plinth which in turn stands upon a chamfered, single-stepped base. The south face of the pedestal is inscribed: 'TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF / THOSE FROM THIS PARISH WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919'. The plinth is inscribed with 45 names whilst the base contains a single name. On the east face of the plinth is the Second World War inscription which reads: ' WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945 / [Names]. The north face of the plinth bears the inscription: 'O VALIANT HEARTS WHO TO YOUR GLORY CAME / THROUGH DUST OF CONFLICT AND THROUGH BATTLE FLAME / TRANQUIL YOU LIE, YOUR KNIGHTLY VIRTUE PROVED, / YOUR MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND YOU LOVED'.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 19 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 19 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/38326
War Memorials Online, accessed 19 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/86133

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