Summary
First World War memorial, erected in 1921, with a dedicated to the fallen of all subsequent conflicts.
Reasons for Designation
Sutton in Ashfield War Memorial, erected in 1921, 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 and all subsequent conflicts;
* Design: as a distinctive and well-executed memorial with a finely carved wheel cross.
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.
Sutton in Ashfield War Memorial was erected in 1921 at a total cost of £400 and dedicated to the memory of 228 local men who fell in the First World War (1914-18). The memorial was built to the designs of Louis Ambler, a local architect who was also responsible for the design of the nave of the neighbouring Church of St Michael and All Angels. A ceremony, attended by several notable local figures, including the Bishop of Southwell, was held on 20 August 1921 to unveil the memorial within the grounds of the church.
The war memorial, which is shown on the 1959 Ordnance Survey map to the north-west of the church (set off Outram Street), remained in its original location for almost 90 years, though in 2009 the entire monument was relocated to the junction of Downing Street and Mansfield Road, less than 200 metres from its previous location. On 25 October 2009 a ceremony was held to rededicate the memorial in its new position and a time capsule was buried to commemorate this occasion.
Details
First World War memorial, with a dedication to the fallen of all subsequent conflicts, erected in 1921 and built to the designs of local architect Louis Ambler.
MATERIALS: principally of sandstone with slate tablets affixed.
PLAN: octagonal in plan-form.
DESCRIPTION: Sutton in Ashfield War Memorial measures approximately 4 metres in height and stands, since its relocation in 2009, in a prominent position at the junction of Downing Street and Mansfield Road. The monument takes the form of a carved wheel cross which surmounts a tapered shaft and an octagonal plinth set on a three-stepped octagonal base. Bounding the memorial is a low iron bar fence and gate, added circa 2010 (not covered by this listing). The three front elevations of the octagonal plinth were fitted with slate tablets in 2009 to replace the original stone inscriptions which had weathered. Each of the three tablets carry the epitaph TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-19, along with the names of 228 local men who fell in the conflict.
A tablet on the rear face of the plinth carries the epitaph TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN CONFLICTS AROUND THE WORLD/ FROM 1919 TO THE PRESENT.
In accordance with s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990, the modern red brick base and the low-set iron fence surrounding the war memorial are not included in the listing.
