Summary
A churchyard war memorial set on line with the eastern end of the church chancel.
Reasons for Designation
Stapleton War Memorial, is statutorily 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;
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 Stapleton War Memorial. The monument was unveiled by Colonel HW Lovett and dedicated by The Revd. R Haselet in June 1920.
Details
A churchyard war memorial set on line with the eastern end of the church chancel.
The monument, of limestone ashlar, has a wheel-head, Celtic cross with knot patterns carved in relief to the arms and a central domed knop. The tapered, rectangular shaft connects to the base, which is also tapered, with a moulded cap and has, inscribed to the north-eastern face: ‘+ / TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / THOSE MEN CONNECTED / WITH THIS PARISH AND CHURCH / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918’. The flanks are carved with the names of the fallen. The rear, south-western face is inscribed: ‘SONS OF THIS PLACE. LET THIS BE SAID. / THAT YOU WHO LIVE ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DEAD. / THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT YOU WHO LIVE MIGHT REAP / A RICHER HARVEST ERE YOU FALL ASLEEP.’ The plinth is stepped.
End of official list entry
