Summary
First World War memorial created by Farmer and Brindley and unveiled on 22 May 1920.
Reasons for Designation
Colston Bassett War Memorial, created by Farmer and Brindley and unveiled on 22 May 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an ornate example of a wheel-head cross war memorial, with decorative details incorporating foliate, rose and ribbon designs;
* Designer: created by Farmer and Brindley, a firm of decorative craftsmen providing architectural sculpture for many of the most important architects including work on Sir George Gilbert Scott’s Albert Memorial, London, and Alfred Waterhouse’s Natural History Museum, London, and Town Hall, Manchester;
* Group value: with the Church of St John the Divine listed at Grade II.
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, 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.
Details
MATERIALS: Limestone.
End of official list entry
