Summary
First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Kirk Merrington War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Evangelist, 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 conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a tall and imposing war memorial;
* Group value: with the Church of St John the Evangelist (Grade II*-listed) and numerous Grade II-listed churchyard monuments.
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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Kirk Merrington as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The tall granite memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Evangelist (Grade II*-listed). It takes the form of a small Latin cross rising from a tall obelisk, square on plan. The obelisk stands on the pedimented top of the pedestal. The pedestal’s moulded base stands on a base of two steps. The whole is enclosed by railings carried on a stone kerb.
End of official list entry
