Summary
First World War memorial, c1920.
Reasons for Designation
Weekley’s war memorial, which stands to the south of St Mary’s church, 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 First World War;
* Design: an elegant limestone cross by the well-regarded Northamptonshire architect JA Gotch, who lived in Weekley and whose son is among those commemorated;
* Group value: it stands alongside the Grade I-listed church of St Mary, and is faced by the Grade II*-listed Montagu Hospital of 1611.
History
The memorial was designed for the Weekley War Memorial Committee by the leading Northamptonshire architect John Alfred Gotch, who lived in the village for nearly 40 years. His son, Roby Myddleton Gotch, Captain and Adjutant of the Sherwood Foresters who was reported missing on the first day of the Battle of the Somme (1 July 1916), is among the seven men commemorated on the memorial.
Details
The memorial stands on a green south of the Grade I-listed church of St Mary, and faced by the Grade II*-listed Montagu Hospital of 1611. It comprises a 3m high limestone cross with a Latin cross-head set on a tapering, square, shaft. That rises from a square plinth. Inscribed in raised lettering is (front face) TO KEEP IN MIND THE/ GREAT WAR & THOSE/ FROM THIS PLACE WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES/ 1914 - 1919/ (rear face) THEIR NAME/ LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE. The names of the fallen appear on the other two faces. The plinth itself stands on a two-stepped octagonal base.
Sources
Books and journals Websites http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/33484 https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/216447 http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/14863
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official list entry
