Weston Favell Memorial Cross, with enclosure, gate piers, steps, and gates.

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Weston Favell Memorial Cross with enclosure, gate piers, steps, and gates, at the NE corner of St Peter’s 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a tall, well-carved Celtic cross;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Peter.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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. One such memorial was raised at Weston Favell as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 16 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was executed by the Northampton masons JG Pullen and Sons. It was unveiled on 23 October 1921 by Brigadier-General Fortescue. Following the Second World War the names of 15 men who died in that conflict were added.

Details

The memorial takes the form of a Celtic, wheel-headed cross, standing in the NE corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Peter (listed Grade II*) and accessed via steps from the intersection of High Street and Churchway. The cross, circa 6m high, is of limestone, and has well-carved, raised interlace ornament. It stands on a sloping plinth, itself on a square, stepped, base. Set on this are two stone flower troughs. To the rear is a small flower urn*.

The plinth carries the inscriptions:

(front face) TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE FROM THIS PARISH WHO/ LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919/ (16 NAMES)/ THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH

(side face) TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE FROM/ THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945/ (15 NAMES)/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT/ A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

The memorial stands in a small square enclosure defined by a low stone wall, approached by steps from the street. The entrance is marked by stone gate piers with ironstone caps; wrought iron gates are contemporary with the memorial.

* Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 ('the Act'), it is declared that this aforementioned feature is not of special architectural or historic interest.


This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 17 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 20/07/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37283
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/217912

Other
“Town News”, Northampton Mercury, 28 October 1921, p13

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