Daventry War Memorial

Summary

War Memorial, granted faculty in 1921 and dedicated 1922.

Reasons for Designation

The war memorial in Daventry which was granted a faculty in July 1921 and dedicated in April 1922, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural Interest: it is an imposing monument in a crucifix form set and landscaped into the boundary of the churchyard;
* Group Value: it has strong group value with the Grade I listed Church of Holy Cross, and Grade II listed Abbey Building and Daventry District Council offices.

History

The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the C19. Prior to then memorials were rare and were mainly dedicated to individual officers, or sometimes regiments. The first large-scale erection of war memorials dedicated to the ordinary soldier followed the Second Boer War of 1899-1902, which was the first major war following reforms to the British Army which led to regiments being recruited from local communities and with volunteer soldiers. However, it was the aftermath of the First World War that was the great age of memorial building, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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.

Daventry war memorial was granted a faculty in July 1921 and dedicated in April 1922 . The memorial represents 114 ranked names from the First World War and 31 unranked names from the Second World War.

Details

Daventry War Memorial, granted faculty in 1921 and dedicated 1922, lies to the rear of the Grade I listed Church of Holy Cross, and Grade II listed Abbey Building and Daventry District Council offices.

The memorial comprises a Latin cross with relief sword, on a tapered pedestal with a two stepped plinth, surrounded by two steps and paving. There are four name panels around the pedestal, two with inset lead lettering listing the names of the 114 ranked names from 1914-1918. The 1939-45 names are on a stone plaque on the front face of the pedestal, with an added lead plaque on a stone set against the base of the cross, enumerating the losses of both the First and Second World Wars.

Set into the northern boundary of the churchyard, the position of the cross is landscaped with rubble stone terracing and a boundary wall to the street front. Gated steps lead up to it.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 16 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/14899
War Memorials Online, accessed 16 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/108953

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