Summary
First World War memorial. Erected c1920.
Reasons for Designation
Littlebredy War Memorial, erected c1920 in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angel’s Church, is designated 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;
* Design: an elegant floriated cross with a statute of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd, rising from a moulded plinth and octagonal base, all finely carved in Portland stone;
* Group value: with the Grade II* listed St Michael and All Angel’s Church and adjacent Grade II listed houses, which form part of the C19 model village of Littlebredy, within the picturesque designed landscape and Grade II registered park of Bridehead.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw a huge wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected in c1920 to commemorate seven residents of Littlebredy who lost their lives.
Details
First World War memorial. Erected c1920.
MATERIALS: Portland stone ashlar.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angel’s Church, near the centre of Littlebredy, and faces south. It is to the north of the Grade II* listed medieval church, east of the Grade II listed Old Parsonage and south of the Grade II listed School House, within the Grade II registered early C19 park of Bridehead. The memorial comprises a fluted foliated cross rising from the foliage capital of a c3.5m high tapering, fluted, octagonal shaft with a moulded base. A statue of Jesus Christ depicted as the Good Shepherd, with a lamb resting upon his shoulders, is supported by a corbel on the front of the cross. The shaft rests upon an octagonal plinth and octagonal base, together 0.6m high. On the front of the plinth is the inscription: I WILL SEEK/ OUT MY SHEEP/ AND DELIVER THEM/ OUT OF ALL PLACES/ WHERE THEY/ HAVE BEEN SCATTERED/ TO THE GLORY/ OF GOD IN/ EVERLASTING/ MEMORY AND/ PRAISE OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES FOR US IN/ THE GREAT WAR. The other sides of the plinth are inscribed with seven names, including full name, rank, regiment, parent’s names, date and place of birth, date and place of death, place of burial.
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 7 December 2016.
