Summary
First World War memorial, 1920.
Reasons for Designation
Wharton War Memorial, which stands in Christ Church churchyard, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War;
* Architectural interest: an elegant Calvary memorial built in an unusual combination of timber and stone;
* Degree of survival: unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.
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
The memorial stands in the churchyard of Christ Church, to the north-west of the church (not listed). Approximately 5m tall, the Darley stone and timber memorial takes the form of a hooded Calvary. The wooden crucifixion scene rises from the moulded foot of the cross head, supported on a slender octagonal shaft. Each side of the wooden shaft is carved with a very narrow blind Gothic arch. The moulded foot of the cross shaft stands on a low stone octagonal pedestal. That is raised on the large stone octagonal plinth, which stands on a three-stepped base.
End of official list entry
