Mangotsfield War Memorial

Summary

First World War Memorial erected in 1919 by the parishioners of Mangotsfield in memory of the men of the parish who lost their lives whilst serving their country in the First World War and later also of those who lost their lives in the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Mangotsfield war memorial, moved to its current location in the late C20, 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: a simple yet refined Latin cross design, well-crafted in stone, and set within late but sympathetically-arranged gardens;
* Intactness: the structure is unaltered;
* Group value: it makes a positive and important contribution to the street scene and groups well with the neighbouring listed building.

History

First World War Memorial erected in 1919 by the parishioners of Mangotsfield in memory of the men of the parish who lost their lives whilst serving their country in the First World War.

The memorial was originally located 40 metres north of its current location, standing in the centre of St James's Place. The Memorial Garden in which it now stands was created in the late C20, and it is likely the war memorial was moved here at that time. The Memorial Garden itself is dedicated to Alec Martin Large, former Chairman of the Royal British Legion's Staple Hill Branch, as recorded at the entrance on a plaque on one of the gate piers.

Details

First World War Memorial erected in 1919 by the parishioners of Mangotsfield in memory of the men of the parish who lost their lives whilst serving their country in the First World War.

The memorial is constructed in granite in the shape of a Latin cross set on a stepped base set in the centre of a hexagonal shaped flower bed with matching granite surround. The front has a plaque (now, 2015, obscured by a hedge) which is inscribed as follows:

THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED/ BY THE PARISHIONERS BY VOLUNTARY EFFORT IN THE/ YEAR 1919 TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL AND/ REVERENT MEMORY OF THIRTY ONE MEN OF/ MANGOTSFIELD WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919 AND WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS CROSS. THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.

A bronze plaque with 31 names including rank is attached to the rear of the base of the cross (now, 2015, treated as the front of the memorial), with a small bronze plaque with a name added at a later date attached below.

Sources

Books and journals
South Gloucestershire District Council, , War Memorials in South Gloucestershire, (October 2014), 18

Websites
Gloucestershire Geneology, accessed 16 January 2015 from http://www.glosgen.co.uk/warmem/mangotsfieldwm.htm
War Memorials Online, accessed 16 January 2015 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/153823
Bristol Post, accessed 16 January 2015 from http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Jail-man-urinated-war-memorial/story-16504024-detail/story.html
Daily Mail, accessed 16 January 2015 from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159814/Homeless-man-34-urinated-war-memorial-scratched-word-p---granite-it.html
ITV News West, accessed 16 January 2015 from http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2012-06-15/man-denies-urinating-on-war-memorial/
War Memorials Register, accessed 16 January 2015 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/7378

End of official list entry

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